echidna

n. burrowing spine-covered monotreme of Australia having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites (Zoology)

For other senses of this word, see echidna (disambiguation). Echidnas, , sometimes also referred to as "spiny anteaters", are the only surviving monotremes apart from the Platypus. The four surviving species, native to New Guinea and Australia, all belong to the Tachyglossidae family. The echidna is named after a  monster in ancient Greek mythology.
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Noun
1. New Guinea echidnas
(synonym) spiny anteater, anteater
(hypernym) monotreme, egg-laying mammal
(member-holonym) Zaglossus, genus Zaglossus
2. burrowing spine-covered monotreme of Australia having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites
(synonym) spiny anteater, anteater
(hypernym) monotreme, egg-laying mammal
(member-holonym) Tachyglossus, genus Tachyglossus

(n.)
A monster, half maid and half serpent.
  

(n.)
A genus of Monotremata found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are toothless and covered with spines; -- called also porcupine ant-eater, and Australian ant-eater.
  

[Greek] Echidna is the hideous mate of Typhon and the daughter of Ceto. She has the head of a beautiful nymph, but the body of a serpent. Zeus spared her and her children's lives as challenges to futures heroes. Echidna's children are the Nemean Lion, Cerberus, Ladon, Chimera, Sphinx, and Hydra.