Tachyglossidae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of egg-laying mammals characterized by their spiny fur and elongated snouts, commonly known as echidnas
2. A group of monotremes distinguished by their unique adaptations for a burrowing lifestyle and specialized feeding habits, particularly using their tongues
3. Mammals that belong to a lineage of species adapted to various environments, known for their ability to forage for insects through a keen sense of smell

Etymology: Taken from the Greek for "swift tongue," this name describes the tongue of the animal it was built from. "Takhys" means swift and "glossa" means tongue, and the genus Tachyglossus was named for the sticky, rapidly flicking tongue the short-beaked echidna uses to snap up ants and termites. The family name adds "-idae," the standard suffix in zoology for animal families, attached to the genus name. The family covers the echidnas, the spiny egg-laying mammals of Australia and New Guinea. Their common name comes from "Echidna," a monstrous serpent-woman in Greek myth, a reference to their spines.

Synonyms: echidnas, spiny anteaters