10 Things You Didn’t Know About Echidnas!

[@MadIIMike]

Echidna: Evolved spikes to keep others away for 55 million years. Human: I WANT TO PET IT!

[@nekrataali]

If not friend, why friend-shaped?

[@CBRN-115]

​@@nekrataali and why do adorable looking?

[@redwolfdragonkirangordondj2840]

Also the echidna: sniffs human's feet

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

Echidna: "I will grow spikes to become unappealing to other animals" Also Echidna: _Transforms into waddling fuzzball._

[@Rex1Mundi]

When I lived in Australia for a short while, I used to find these little buggers in the bush undergrowth and it was easy to have a good look on them since they're so slow. I think they're cute.

[@WickedWildlife]

I think they are pretty adorable too!

[@peaceleader7315]

Yeah, but if you live in Australia just a little while, you may not understand the word bugger.. 😆.

[@ylstorage7085]

caption for the Echidna: "let me go human! let me let me let me gooooooooo", for 10 mins straight

[@jaquinicole2936]

Such cute creatures, the electrical signals and age was very interesting. I would be interested in seeing his enclosure 🙏😊

[@WickedWildlife]

They are very cool! I will try and get that video out soon 😊

[@nicky9589]

I love echidna's mate, that was a fantastic little video, platapusses are are another creature I've seldom seen, Even though I live in the Murray river area, I've only ever seen 1 echidna in the wild. I actually stopped and put my hazard lights on, so to alert traffic ,, as I let it safely cross a highway. The best part, (besides seeing the little fella walk away) was the amount of others who stopped to say, Thankyou, for taking care of the little one, i would've sone the same thing. That warmed my heart to hear good, positive attitude from Australian drivers. Edit: Cheers mate. Thanks for sharing those interesting facts.✌💚💛

[@WickedWildlife]

I’m lucky to see platypus in the creek here most days! They are both such bizarre and unique critters

[@ddustcollective]

PUT HIM DOWN ... He needs to get back to Angel Island and protect the Master Emerald

[@Angie2343]

Exactly!

[@hugoc.5082]

Release me human!

[@WickedWildlife]

He did his best! 😂

[@sir_jerhyn]

Knuckles.

[@Angie2343]

Exactly!

[@Liboo52]

Unlike Sonic I don’t chuckle

[@TheWildlifeBrothers]

As usual you presented some really interesting facts, I only knew a few of them and I learned a ton! I had no idea how long echidnas could live, nor did I know about their name’s history or how wide their distribution is! I love this series from you Nick, you do one of the best iterations of “10 things you didn’t know” on KZbin in my opinion. Great work! - Harrison and Evan

[@abocas]

I totally agree :-) Usually, I know those 10:things already. But here I actually don't :-)

[@DaveWhoa]

for a "short-beaked" echidna, thats still a quality beak! cute lil bugger. amazing claws too, and fascinating they can detect electrical signals like platypus

[@WickedWildlife]

He certainly has some decent claws on him!

[@jimcrawford5039]

They sure can dig!

[@DENMONKEY]

Fun fact 11. Echidna don't like being held up like that.

[@DENMONKEY]

@WetTropicsOfOz you need to be one or the other to know?

[@sparking023]

The echidna dreams of an island in the heavens, of the blood of his ancestors flowing inside him, of his duty to save the flower from evil deterioration

[@Angie2343]

And guarding a giant emerald that keeps the island afloat.

[@bunyinjbhadi7212]

My tribal name of Bunyinj...means Echidna, or 'Porcupine Man'. If I travel to Gamilaroi country, I am known as a 'Pikibilla', and in Warlpiri country I am 'Inalinka'. Pretty confusing sometimes, especially among the 3760 tribal dialects within Australia!!! So, I have an English name and MANY tribal names....but only one at a time!!

[@DxD190]

Hi knux

[@disnagburnazog9552]

3760 dialects wow

[@Valkyrie77]

Hey, human! Release me! I need to protect the Master Emerald!

[@wangdangatomictango]

The lil feller's just "F R E E ME!" 😂 Thanks! I learned so much!!

[@kaboozle]

Funny to see how the Echidna got more and more anxious during the video. I’m sure he/she was glad they were finally released from this dangerous mammal’s grasp!

[@andrewstrongman305]

Wow, I did not know that you could pick up an echidna without being stuck by the quills. I've ushered echidnas across country roads but had no idea of how cuddly they can be!

[@Devo491]

That's a tame echidna. A wild echidna will lacerate your hand with violent movements of its entire body.

[@andrewstrongman305]

@@Devo491 That explains it, thanks, mate.

[@traceycrawford9938]

I was curious about that too, how did he pick up Custard without getting spiked? But yeah, Custard is clearly tame.

[@davespanksalot8413]

They’re not that bad. I just use my shirt to cover them so they aren’t as spikey and then cradle them like a baby. But it’s distressing for them, so unless there’s risk of traffic it’s best to let them waddle. Plus they’re usually covered in ticks and fleas.

[@saggiteightyfour8367]

This one is Melbournian which is a bit more fluffy and less spiky. He's also being held mostly by the underside. You can see all the scratches on the guy's forearms though.

[@sarikoske396]

Just stumbled across your channel! Have subscribed 👍 Loved this video and learned so much!!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'm besotted with my resident echidna ❤️ (or echidnas??) Absolute cutie!!! 💞 I've had many interactions as he/she frequents my shed regularly. We had an "ET" moment once where it reached out and touched the tip of my finger! Have also met out and about in the paddocks both daytime and night time. I feel incredibly privileged and honoured to share their space ❤️❤️

[@lindinle]

Their noses are in such a way that they dont actually sniff things. They snorf!

[@thegamerator10]

They've also got amazing punching power and can glide through the air. Wait, wrong echidnas.

[@MaddysinLeigh]

I’m surprised I had to scroll this far down to find a Knuckles comment.

[@vittosphonecollection57289]

And they also have a great nose to search for emeralds

[@bazkeen]

90% of that I didn't know. Very interesting facts. Would love to see how you went about building the enclosure. Like that sort of thing Good one Nick

[@WickedWildlife]

No worries! I’ve got a fair bit of editing to do on it but will get it out ASAP 😊👍

[@bazkeen]

@@WickedWildlife Cool 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@georgesand1160]

Wich facts I didn't know about these cute animals...? Well, I didn't know that Echidnas...exist.

[@Yoshi278]

I usually feel like when I go into "top 10 facts about x animal" videos I already know everything but wow I really don't know much about Echidnas. Awesome video.

[@WickedWildlife]

Thanks! We have a few of these “10 facts about” videos abd I try and get some lesser known facts in there!

[@sxyslyvxn]

He's precious!!! Has anyone called them Australian hedgehogs? I speculate they may not exactly be related to European hedgehogs, but I consider them kindred spirits just like the pangolin (or scaly anteater) and the armadillo are a different species altogether. He looks absolutely darling!

[@heleninglis9961]

All i need to know about them is that they're just too cute!

[@WickedWildlife]

That’s very true!

[@redwolfdragonkirangordondj2840]

XD Yeah :3

[@greensteve9307]

I love how you throw shade on those still using archaic measurements. 😆😆

[@WickedWildlife]

Poking fun is the Australian way! 😂

[@abocas]

Not Australian so this is so interesting. They are just adorable ....

[@williamogilvie6909]

Very interesting, and good to hear you Aussies are taking care of all those strange and wonderful animals down there.

[@redwolfdragonkirangordondj2840]

Tbh, I think there are more kind ppl that are Australians, Europeans and/or Canadians than the rest of the world :/

[@Blesseddvl]

Such an Aussie creature... With a laid-back lifestyle)

[@markrumfola9833]

Hello 👋 to you and the Animal

[@WickedWildlife]

Hello to you too mate!

[@Smickster01]

lol couldnt help but take a dig at those still living in the 18th century. looking at you america! get with the times.

[@bigboy9842]

Wow amazing animals

[@WickedWildlife]

They certainly are!

[@bigboy9842]

@@WickedWildlife in my peoples language custards name is Gihrungu

[@WickedWildlife]

@@bigboy9842 thanks mate, that’s fascinating to know! What language/part of Australia is that from?

[@bigboy9842]

@@WickedWildlife wakka wakka people 3 hours north west of Brisbane

[@lolcoolk3192]

Who else searched 'Echidna' just because of Knuckles the Echidna, or comments related to Knuckles the Echidna? 👀

[@justink1075]

Without doubt, they are my most favourite animal in the whole world. I love finding them in the wild and just watching them go about their business. They are so beautiful.👌🖖❤️

[@konradbanys2239]

the mere phrase about 18th century makes me want to subscribe to your channel:)

[@teawrecks1243]

Echidnas also know da wae.

[@Hayahwassa-t9j]

pincushion! Echidnas sticky tongue not too fast but many talents sniffing power straight from God dreamers too skills He gave you He is calling come on home

[@leybrabear]

Uhhh, perhaps u didn't notice, but we're all getting uncomfortable watching that poor little echidna frantic to get loose from being held & listening to you describe her. Or him.

[@qingbo]

I just read with my son a book about echidnas he brought home from school and I thought these "10 things" would be nothing new to me. I was wrong! Thanks for the video. But the fact that the females' pouches are formed temporarily during breeding season is fascinating. Is it just common knowledge so you didn't include that? 😃

[@WickedWildlife]

Stoked to hear you enjoyed the video mate! I certainly wouldn’t say the temporary pouch is common knowledge, and it did almost make it into the video, there’s so many cool facts about echidnas I had to cut them down to just 10!

[@indyreno2933]

Monotremes (subclass Monotremata) are a small subclass of mammals containing the echidnas and platypus, there are a total of six extant monotreme species within three genera, two families, and two orders, echidnas (family Tachyglossidae) are the only extant family of monotremes within the order Tachyglossa, there are five extant species of echidna within two genera, the Western Long-Beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruinji), the Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni), the Northern Long-Beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), the New Guinea Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus lawesii), and the Australian Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is the only extant member of the family Ornithorhynchidae and the order Platypoda, monotremes are the most basal of the three subclasses of mammals (class Mammalia).

[@ActionAbe1]

weird little guys.

[@WickedWildlife]

They are pretty bizarre!

[@rowbless393]

It's crazy that scientists can even get this much information from an animal! Super cool

[@НиколайХанзо]

n.1 that they exist.

[@D._Eath]

Custard : " I'm 'bout to punch this blue b@stard into a special zone of hurt ! "

[@vernonfridy8416]

5:18 Tachyglossus is not the only current genus of echidna: the long-beaked echidnas belong to a different genus, Zaglossus.

[@ianparkinson7039]

Awesome Nick they are unique and beautiful animals. You did well holding her for so long those spines are sharp. I’d love to see the enclosure build. Cheers mate

[@WickedWildlife]

Thanks Ian!

[@neon_echidna]

AMAZING my new profile name

[@MushookieMan]

Let that little feller go lol

[@ginnied7346]

cheeky bugger, we still use miles in the UK and we live in this century not the 1800's i loved learning about the echidnas, i was surprised to learn that they lay eggs, watching the baby hatch had my mind blown really good vid, Ta

[@catsmom129]

As an American I feel totally called out 😂😂

[@tf-lv4zu]

i really enjoyed these facts. are echidnas territorial also do they have just one mate in fifty years

[@WickedWildlife]

Thanks! No echidnas are not territorial but they do have a home range Also they have an unusual mating system, males form “trains” following the females everywhere for the breeding season, as they tire out and fall behind she mates with the last bloke remaining

[@tf-lv4zu]

@@WickedWildlife i came across three echidnas on our property once/ i thought it was just a family of them. however it must have been a train. thanks for the info very informative.

[@WickedWildlife]

@@tf-lv4zu yeah, make echidnas have no part in raising offspring and females only have one baby, which is usually left in the next almost until it’s independent

[@anthonystigs1992]

They can glide and their favorite food is grapes

[@LatinaVixen91]

Learning about Knuckles

[@rawknucklesprospecting682]

Why are they called beaks when they obviously don't have beaks, yet a platypus obviously has a beak like ducks? This terminology confuses me can anyone explain it?

[@WickedWildlife]

The terminology is confusing! Especially since we call a platypuses about a bill not a beak! Basically it’s all down to words being used in the 18th century at a time without the ease of communication we have today meaning different biologists use language differently

[@durere]

I really had no idea how many types of echidnas are out there, thank you! Also, that was a very nice burn for all the peasants that haven't evolved into the metric system 😆

[@dentrobate54]

Could've mentioned that echidna's hind feet face backwards attributing to their slower movement and waddling.

[@vt8287]

This is really fantastic video and echidna is like a baby. The video of echidna which was found in Indonesia was just released. It is amazing.

[@ErnestUngureanu]

Je ne crois pas que ce magnifique animal aime qu'on le manipule dans des positions incommodes. I do not believe that this magnificent animal likes to be manipulated in inconvenient positions.

[@GregNumber5]

I like living in the 18th century

[@4Gingergirl4]

Fact #11 They hate being held

[@deviousphoenix5590]

I was driving through Geurie between Dubbo and Wellington,(in NSW) and saw how kind the drivers on the highway were to slow down to a stop for a echidna crossing the road. It’s an iconic animal in the area for the indigenous community out here, and are well respected as well by everyone that locally live out here. They are really cute as well! 👍🏻

[@awf6554]

Yeah, I reckon most Aussies have a soft spot for echidnas.

[@thomaspetrucka9173]

Bro, you can put him down.

[@Femmypixel]

Honestly i dont aprechiate you holding him constantly, throughout the entire video it is very obvious that he does not like that and that you are disturbing his peace. Just hold him for a bit and then leave him be and just tell the rest of the facts without holding him the entire time.

[@tommiestrydom973]

Thank you. That video was most enjoyable and informative

[@WickedWildlife]

Thanks for watching mate!

[@chykcha]

Let it gooooo. The poor thing is trying to get away from you.

[@sentryzero]

We got iPads here in 1752 :D Great video. Thanks for the info.

[@WickedWildlife]

😂😂😂 Thanks mate!

[@popeyethepirate5473]

I feel anxious for him, just let him down

[@fantomghost6213]

I came across an Echidna several years ago while camping. It had very few quills but the ones it did have were very large. I think he might have been a very old guy or gal

[@chessjn4870]

I mean - I loved all the info. But did you really have to hold the echidna like that the whole way through? You can clearly see how uncomfortable they are. Put them down!!! All of the information can be shared without putting that baby through so much stress.

[@chessjn4870]

Can’t even finish the video I feel too uncomfortable for that echidna

[@abelaze]

is that really love to animals? I see a for that a man without love.

[@xcobyxzei]

Very cool

[@WickedWildlife]

They certainly are!

[@ChrisJones-jm9dz]

At least EVOLUTION didn't create it with venom glands like its cousin the platypus 🤔

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

The REAL first fact I learned from this video is that this man's hands are made of steel. How's he holding that spiky little guy without gloves??

[@michaelshort2388]

Thanks Nick, great info as always :)

[@WickedWildlife]

Thanks mate!

[@zelly8163]

Love your videos and love these little guys too. Here in the Northern Rivers we have a very large black one that pops up every now and then. Didn't know they lives lived so long...go the mighty echidna!

[@niclas6405]

Fact 11: Cute AF

[@elijahfinch3889]

at 3:39 one of the rainbow lorikeets had a red spot just on the top of it's head. it almost looks like it could be genetics for a single factor pied lorikeet maybe. thanks for video it was great.

[@WickedWildlife]

I hadn’t spotted that! Thanks for watching mate!

[@СпасЯнков-э2ч]

A video on rainbow lorikeets would be nice

[@corporalpunishment1133]

I'm sorry I haven't found you channel until now but excellent content and your the best Australian wildlife channel on KZbin 👍🇭🇲

[@cccooper472]

I didn't know any facts because I didn't even know they existed. But I do think he's pretty cute!❤❤❤

[@H00L3y]

Great channel mate! Bumped into a bunch of echidnas at Mt. Cordeaux on the scenic rim in SE Queensland. First time ive ever seen them!!

[@nokari458]

Watched from Pacific Northwest, USA ❤

[@rainpooper7088]

You can see that echidna lose faith in humanity as the video progresses.

[@markthomas8766]

Well you skipped over the funny fact of why they are actually called monotemes and what that actually means! Don't blush. Second; they don't actually have a stomach! That's right; eat and straight into the small intestine!

[@billyr2904]

Echidnas didn't imminently evolve after the Extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.

[@fleachamberlain1905]

Over 50 years. Spike, at Healesville, came into the sanctuary as an adult, and lived there over 50 years.

[@Adam-7_7_7]

Wait a second, didnt the meteor wipe out the dinosaurs 50m years ago ? That must make them tough little buggers.

[@ravenpicks]

I never heard of them, I was reading Prince Harry's book Spare and he mentioned one named Spike.

[@BradGryphonn]

Did I miss the fact that Echidnas are one of the cutest Australian animals? I know we love Quokkas...because you know, Quokkas! And we love the Bilby because of those wickedly cool ears. But in terms of animals seen all over Australia, Echidnas are up there on the cute scale. Look at that nose and those crazy feet. Now, if Bilbys had evolved to have Echidna-like spikes on their ears like a Stegasaurus tail, they might not be on the critically endangered list. They could whip those ears around like a ninja wields a katana to keep the cats at bay.

[@johntaylor3100]

What about tracking one the way the tracks are going it's it's the opposite way

[@DonaldWhippleFox-ej6fh]

Thanks, mate! Best wishes from an 18th century man in the USA 😅

[@user-eh2jk6mf9s]

What a burn! For "those living in the 18th century" 😂

[@idiotmiho]

the echidna being held is constantly like >:( its so cute lol

[@evelynbagnasco7293]

I would love to see how his enclosure, and definitely learn more about them!!! So, yes please!

[@captainnocturnalofficial]

i wish i could have a pet echidna, is it not legal to have one as a pet since they are so important to the ecosystem?

[@lankey6969]

Something else I learned is they really want to be put back on the ground.

[@etmax1]

Custard is amazingly calm and accommodating, I found one in the forest near our place that had this habit of exhaling and once it sensed your touch it would inhale very quickly stabbing you with it's quills. BTW, I new about half of the facts thanks to many other very informative books and videos over the years.

[@imogensmith683]

I don't think the echidna enjoys being held like that, very mean

[@같싶]

209 D'Amore Island

[@CoolClearWaterNM]

I did not know about the naming convention difficulties. I have been searching for behavior notes or anecdotes. One of the characters in a story I am writing for my great grand daughters is an echidna and I am looking for some accurate quirks to put into it.

[@kontiuka]

First thing I didn't know. That they existed.

[@AngusMurray]

7:00 they dream about those sweet, sweet ants...

[@puppy969]

How are you able to hold this little guy without getting spiked?