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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Observations of breeding behaviour and possible infanticide in a wild population of Tasmanian echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus)

Rachel L. Harris A B and Stewart C. Nicol A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: rachel.harris@utas.edu.au

Australian Mammalogy 36(1) 108-112 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM13011
Submitted: 26 April 2013  Accepted: 9 December 2013   Published: 4 March 2014

Abstract

We describe field observations of Tasmanian echidna behaviour, including possible infanticide, where males damaged and entered nursery burrows. We also present the second report of a female producing a second offspring within a single reproductive season after the loss of her first young at an early stage.

Additional keywords: Monotreme, reproductive behaviour, short-beaked echidna.


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