Shelter selection and home range of echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, in the highlands of south-east Queensland

Abstract

We recorded physical attributes of sites used for daily shelter or as hibernacula by nine echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, living on a sheep-grazing property in south-eastern Queensland. Home ranges were also determined. For daily shelter sites, echidnas most often used hollow logs and depressions under the roots of fallen trees. Daily shelters were found more often on north-facing slopes and usually provided >90% cover. Hibernation sites always provided 100% cover but, in contrast to daily sites, were distributed randomly in relation to the slope of the terrain. Rabbit burrows, which offer much better thermal buffering than hollow logs, were used most commonly as hibernacula. There were differences between individuals in the type of shelter they used and, moreover, echidnas did not use shelter sites in proportion to what was available, indicating that choice was being exercised. Re-use of sites occurred non-randomly, implying that echidnas can recognise previously used shelters and probably have a learned familiarity with their living area. Home ranges varied between 20.6 ha and 93.3 ha (mean = 49.8, s.d. = 25.4), overlapped with those of other echidnas and correlated positively with body weight.