Most widely distributed of the extant monotremes (egg-laying mammals) (Nicol 2015a)
Widespread in Australia, including Tasmania and offshore islands
Found on the main island of New Guinea and other nearby islands (e.g., Salawati Island) (Augee et al. 2006)
The short-beaked echidna is rare in New Guinea today
Distribution of subspecies
(Nicol 2015b)
T. a. aculeatus: East Australia (East New South Wales, Victoria, and South Queensland)
T. a. acanthion: arid regions of most of Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia)
T. a. lawesii: South and Southeast New Guinea; North Australia (Northeast Queensland)
T. a. multiaculeatus: Kangaroo Island, Australia
T. a. setosus: Tasmania and Bass Strait Island, Australia
Elevation range
Up to 1,675 m (5,500 ft) in New Guinea (Alpin et al. 2016)
Up to the highest peaks in Australia (Alpin et al. 2016); at least 1815 m (5955 ft), as reported by Augee et al. (1992)
Historic distribution
T. a. lawesii: had a larger, patchy distribution in New Guinea before the arrival of Europeans; now only known to a few, localized areas (Augee et al. 2006)
Habitat
Australia
All terrestrial habitats (Nicol 2015b; Alpin et al. 2016)
Mountains (to above snowline)
Tropics/rainforest
Open woodland, eucalyptus woodland
Grasslands/savannah
Arid zones
Beaches and coasts
The only other mammal found in so many divergent habitats is the house mouse (Augee et al. 2006)
New Guinea
A variety of habitats, including open woodlands and forests (Nicol 2015b)
Habitat preferences
Echidnas spend a lot of time in areas with vegetation that provides cover (Nicol 2015a)
Under rocks; in hollow logs, hollows at the base of trees, piles of leaves, bunch (tussock) grasses; or dig into the soil
Camouflage well; hard to locate by sight (Augee et al. 2006)
Short-beaked Echidna Distribution
The short-beaked echidna is found in New Guinea and northeastern Australia.
