Echidnas live relatively peaceful, long lives. They have no native predator, although one species of large monitor lizards eat the spineless puggles. Non-native predators, including feral cats and pigs, dogs, dingoes, and foxes, will attack echidnas. Under attack, the echidna will roll itself into a spiny ball until the danger has passed. Vehicles pose the biggest threat to echidnas, which move slowly and are often seen disposed at the side of the roads. A second threat to echidnas is overheating. Echidnas have no sweat pores, and do not pant. They must therefore maintain a very low body temperature. It was even disputed at one time whether echidnas were even warm-blooded mammals or not, given how low their internal temperature was. Escaping these dangers, echidnas can live fifty years or more.

Scientists have not been able to determine the number of echidnas in existence in the world, and have officially listed them as a protected species. It may take time, but hopefully technology will continue to aid us in the understanding of this primitive, perplexing creature.

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