Echidna

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An echidna, z, is a type of monster that appears in SLASH'EM, SlashTHEM, SpliceHack, and Hack'EM. It is a carnivorous, oviparous and thick-skinned animal, and is usually one of the first zouthern animals you will encounter.

An echidna possesses two claw attacks.

Strategy

Echidnas are generally are not terribly threatening among early monsters, due to their low speed and weak attacks. Players should be careful not to confuse them with the stronger wombats and dangerous wallabies, who share the same glyph.

Origin

The echidna, sometimes known as the spiny anteater, is a quill-covered mammal that lives in Australia and New Guinea. Despite their appearance and nickname, they are not closely related to the American true anteaters, nor are they related to hedgehogs. There are four extant species of echidnas, which make up the only living group of mammals that lay eggs (known as monotremes, of the order Monotremata) alongside the platypus. The diet of some species of echidnas consists of ants and termites.

Echidna is also the name of a half-woman, half-snake monster from Greek mythology, superficially similar to a naga. It is possible the animal is named for her, as it has both mammalian and reptilian qualities, but it may also be a corruption of the ancient Greek word ekhinos, meaning "hedgehog" or "sea urchin".