Mating Habits of the Echidna
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341826)
Rockingham, Australia
August 18, 2016 7:34am CST
Following my post about the echidna, I decided to research how they do manage to mate.
It seems the males have a four-headed penis. At any mating, only two heads on one side are active and the pairs of heads alternate with each mating. The erect penis is 7cm (2.8ins) long and covered in penile spines which are not at all like the spines on the body but much smaller projections. The friction of these against the female's cloaca is believed to induce ovulation.
During the breeding season, males will line up behind the female according to hierarchy and follow her around. There is a YouTube clip of four or five males following a female. It seems the male lifts the female's 'skirt' with his beak and goes about his business. And another fact I'd forgotten but think is pretty cute – baby echidnas are called 'puggles'.
This time the photo is of the echidna we saw last week.
20 people like this
13 responses
@vandana7 (100546)
• India
30 Aug 16
@DaddyEvil ... Thank you DE...learned new thing today..:)
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
18 Aug 16
Thanks for the birds and echidna lesson! I never heard of these criters. Interesting. You have a lot of intriguing critters there in Australia! Would love to go see in person some day. I have a beautiful parakeet (or budgie, they just call 'em all parakeets here) from your country. He's white with patches of different colors,he's so pretty!.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341826)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 16
I knew our budgies were called parakeets in the US. There are great flocks of them in the north but the natural colour is the green with yellow flecks. They make lovely pets, don't they?
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Aug 16
I am both disturbed, and amused, amused by a puggle!
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
18 Aug 16
hmmm, i didn' know whether to laugh 'r holler "too much info!" ~ 
what'n adorable name "puggles", kinda makes ya think cute'n cuddly 'n from lookin' 't the parents, i reckon such jest aint so, lol.
what'n adorable name "puggles", kinda makes ya think cute'n cuddly 'n from lookin' 't the parents, i reckon such jest aint so, lol.3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
19 Aug 16
@JudyEv lol, good idea! i've no earthly idea, but hope't made sense to whome'er did such 
2 people like this
@TopAppDevelopers (53)
• Mumbai, India
18 Aug 16
The photo looks interesting...baby echidnas photoshoot!
1 person likes this
@TopAppDevelopers (53)
• Mumbai, India
22 Aug 16
@JudyEv haha! and kind of shy baby it was!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341826)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 16
No, the echidna's barbs don't come out. They just poke in you.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
18 Aug 16
Do they resemble porcupines? Such queer creatures.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341826)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 16
I guess they are a bit like porcupines. They look very primitive to me.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Aug 16
And now I've learned something interesting this morning!
1 person likes this
