6 march 09

The Echidna found in Australia is the Short-beaked Echidna and along with the Platypus are the only members of the monotreme family (which are Mammals that lay eggs and produces milk for its young). There is normally 3 options open to an Echidna when it feels threatened

1) Run away on its short stubby legs if on a hard surface such as a road or rocks.

2) Curl itself into a ball protecting its softer underbelly, and only showing sharp spines to its threat.

3) Burrows down below the surface of the soil showing only its spines along its back, and holding on below the surface with its claws thus resisting being pulled out of the ground .

If Antarctica's ice would melt the oceans would rise about 60 meters.6