Australia’s spiky, shuffling, egg-laying echidna evolved in ‘extremely rare’ event, scientists say

Echidnas, Australia's burrowing mammals, trace their terrestrial life to a rare evolutionary event where their water-dwelling ancestors switched to land. This transition, marked by traits like digging claws and sensitive beaks, highlights how these unique creatures adapted to thrive in the forest undergrowth, unlike most mammals that evolve from water to land. A study reveals they evolved from a common ancestor, Kryoryctes cadburyi, suggesting it's more common for prehistoric animals to move from land to water than the opposite. Echidnas' adaptations, such as backward-facing feet and diving reflex, show how these creatures innovated during this pivotal shift in evolution.