echidna

e·chid·na  (-kdn)

n.

Either of two nocturnal, burrowing, egg-laying mammals of the genera Tachyglossus and Zaglossus of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, having a spiny coat, slender snout, and an extensible sticky tongue used for catching insects. Also called spiny anteater.

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[Latin, adder, viper, from Greek ekhidna, from ekhis.]

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echidna [ɪˈkɪdnə]

n pl -nas, -nae [-niː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of the spine-covered monotreme mammals of the genera Tachyglossus of Australia and Zaglossus of New Guinea: family Tachyglossidae. They have a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites Also called spiny anteater

[from New Latin, from Latin: viper, from Greek ekhidna]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	echidna - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to New Guinea spiny anteater, anteater egg-laying mammal, monotreme - the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria genus Zaglossus, Zaglossus - a genus of Tachyglossidae
	2.	echidna - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia spiny anteater, anteater egg-laying mammal, monotreme - the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria genus Tachyglossus, Tachyglossus - type genus of the family Tachyglossidae