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Definition of short-beaked echidna
short-beaked echidna
Plural:short-beaked echidnas
• noun
1
Australian A species of egg-laying mammal (monotreme), Tachyglossus aculeatus, native to Australia and New Guinea, characterized by a covering of spines and hair, a distinctive tubular snout, and a specialized tongue for eating ants and termites.
Example
"During our hike in the Australian bush, we were lucky enough to spot a short-beaked echidna foraging for ants near a fallen log."
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Short-beaked echidna. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/short-beaked%20echidna