Tachyglossus aculeatus

(G. K. Shaw, 1792)

Short-beaked Echidna

Taxonomy

Subclass : Yinotheria
Infraclass : Australosphenida
Order : Monotremata
Family : Tachyglossidae
Genus : Tachyglossus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Shaw, G.K. 1792-07. [Fascicle XXXVI]. Pp. pl. 108–pl. 110 in Shaw, G.K. 1791-1792. The Naturalist's Miscellany: or, coloured figures of natural objects; drawn and described immediately from nature. Vol. 3. Nodder, London, not continuously paginated pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59564684

Original name as described

Myrmecophaga aculeata

Other common names

Australian Echidna · Short-nosed Echidna · Spiny Anteater · Bristly Echidna · Kangaroo Island Echidna

Type locality

“New Holland [= Sydney]”, New South Wales, Australia.

Biogeographic realm

Australasia

Country distribution

Australia · Indonesia · Papua New Guinea

Subregion distribution

Australia(SA,TAS,NT,NSW,WA,VIC,ACT,QLD) · Indonesia(PP)

Distribution notes

Continental Australia, including Tasmania, Groote Eylandt, and Bigge, Mua (Hitchcock et al., 2014), Dunk, Magnetic, Fraser, North Stradbroke, King, Flinders, and Kangaroo Is, and coastal and highland regions of SE and E New Guinea (including Markham Valley), both C and S Papua New Guinea and SE Papua Province, Indonesia.

Distribution references

Hitchcock, G., Conaty, S., Fell, D., Gordon, G., Reis, T., & Stanton, D. (2014). Range extension of the short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus (Monotremata: Tachyglossidae) and the northern brown bandicootIsoodon macrourus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) in Queensland: Mua (Moa Island), Torres Strait. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 59, 1-7.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000002

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Echidna corealis

(Krefft, 1872)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

corealis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AM PA.389

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

808

Authority publication

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Tachyglossus Lawesii

E. P. Ramsay, 1877

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

lawesii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AM PA.399

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

32

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales

Tachyglossus aculeatus ineptus

O. Thomas, 1906

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

ineptus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1906.8.1.363

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ac84454d-3846-46a4-bcb5-8b77691e15e8

Authority page

2

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31208863

Authority publication

Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna hystrix multiaculeata

(W. Rothschild, 1905)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

multiaculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1939.4248

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/2f19301e-82ed-450a-874e-3c8d95e6fdd9 https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f9c29969-fdad-4949-b1a1-bb1d50b8c5fe

Authority page

306

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3479056

Authority publication

Novitates Zoologicae

Echidna sydneiensis

(Kowarzik, 1909)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

sydneiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1939.4248

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/2f19301e-82ed-450a-874e-3c8d95e6fdd9 https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f9c29969-fdad-4949-b1a1-bb1d50b8c5fe

Authority page

214

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9741655

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna histrix

(É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

histrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

225

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:196) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Echidna acanthion

(R. Collett, 1885)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

acanthion

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NHMO 678, NHMO 681, NHMO 682 (= NHMO 1113), NHMO 1182, NHMO 6092, NHMO 6306

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

1

Authority publication

Forhandlinger i Videnskabs-Selskabot i Christiania

Echidna orientalis

(Krefft, 1872)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

orientalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

808, col. 1

Authority publication

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echinopus Hystrix

(G. Fischer, 1814)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

hystrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

xxiv

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130085

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xxiv, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130085) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)

Echinopus setosus

(G. Fischer, 1814)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

setosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

xxiv

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130085

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xxiv, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130085) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)

Tachyglossus Hystrix

Illiger, 1815

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

hystrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

102

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Illiger (1815:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Tachyglossus setosus

Illiger, 1815

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

setosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

102

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Illiger (1815:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Echidna hystrix

(Rafinesque, 1817)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

hystrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

362

Authority publication

American Monthly Magazine and Critical Review

Name usages

  1. Rafinesque (1817:362) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35234)
  2. Smith (1842:312) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)

Tachyglossus aculeatus

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

aculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

7

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:7) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:17) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:6) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #41312) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #41312) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000002) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41312/21964662) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion

Groves, 2005

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

acanthion

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Tachyglossus aculeatus aculeatus

Groves, 2005

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

aculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Tachyglossus aculeatus lawesii

Groves, 2005

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

lawesii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus

Groves, 2005

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

multiaculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus

Groves, 2005

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

setosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Echidna acrobata

(E. Blyth, 1863)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

acrobata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

186

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534867

Authority publication

Calcutta

Name usages

Blyth (1863:186, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534867) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)

Myrmecophaga aculeata

(G. K. Shaw, 1792)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

aculeatus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

pl. 109 (unnumbered p. 1)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59564684

Authority publication

London

Echidna novæ Hollandiæ

(de Lacépède, 1799)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

novaehollandiae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Ornithorhynchus Hystrix

(Home, 1802)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

hystrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

348; Plates 10–13

Authority publication

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna setosa

(É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

setosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

226

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Rafinesque (1817:362) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35234)
  2. Smith (1842:312) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  3. Lesson (1842:196) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Echidna breviaculeata

(Tiedemann, 1808)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

breviaculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

592

Authority publication

Landshut

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna longiaculeata

(Tiedemann, 1808)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

longiaculeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

592

Authority publication

Landshut

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Acanthonotus myrmecophagus

(Goldfuss, 1809)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

myrmecophagus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

309

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47498143

Authority publication

Erlangen

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Platypus Longirostra

(Perry, 1810)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

longirostrus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

F6

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna novae Hollandiae

(G. Fischer, 1813)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

novaehollandiae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

subsequent_usage

Authority page

444

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29109555

Authority publication

Moscow

Echidna australiensis

(Lesson, 1827)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

australiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

318

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207785

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:318, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207785) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

ornithorhynchus eracinius

(Mudie, 1829)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

eracinius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

180

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna Histrix

(G. R. Waterhouse, 1838)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

histrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

68

Authority publication

London

Echidna Australis

(Lesson, 1838)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

australis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

460 (adjacent unnumbered plate)

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna brevicaudata

(J. E. Gray, 1865)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

brevicaudata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notusedas_valid

Authority page

386

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497341

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Echidna aculeata typica

(O. Thomas, 1885)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

typicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

338

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31015399

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

Echidna (Tachyglossus) hobartensis

(Kowarzik, 1909)

Family

Tachyglossidae

Root name

hobartensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

215

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9741656

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8560)

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