western Europe. In these cases, breeding occurred six months out of phase compared to Australia, after the animals had adapted to Northern Hemisphere seasons. The failure of captive breeding programs has conservation implications for the endangered species of echidna from the genus Zaglossus, and to a lesser extent for the short-beaked echidna. Cultural references Short-beaked echidnas feature in the animistic culture of indigenous Australians, including their visual arts and stories. The species was a totem for some groups, including the Noongar people from Western Australia. Many groups have myths about the animal; one myth explains it was created when a group of hungry young men went hunting at night and stumbled across a wombat. They threw spears at the wombat, but lost sight of it in the darkness. The wombat adapted the spears for its own defence and turned into an echidna. The short-beaked echidna is an iconic animal in contemporary Australia, notably appearing on the five-cent coin (the smallest denomination), and on a $200 commemorative coin released in 1992. The anthropomorphic echidna Millie was a mascot for the 2000 Summer Olympics. See also Echidna Fauna of Australia List of monotremes and marsupials Cited references Works cited Augee, M. L., Gooden, B. A. and Musser, A. 2006. Echidna : extraordinary egg-laying mammal. Collingwood, Victoria, CSIRO Publishing Egerton, L. ed. 2005. Encyclopedia of Australian wildlife. Reader's Digest General references Augee, M. L. and Gooden, B. A. 1993. Echidnas of Australia and New Guinea. Australian National History Press, Sydney Augee, M. L. 1983. R. Strahan Ed. The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals. pp. 8–9. Angus & Robertson Griffiths, M. 1989. Tachyglossidae. pp. 407–435 in Fauna of Australia (D. W. Walton and B. J. Richardson, eds.). Mammalia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 1B:1–1227. External links Tasmanian Department of Water, Primary Industries and Environment – Short-beaked echidna Echidna Love Trains, article with sound clips and images of puggles Mammals of South Australia Mammals of Tasmania Mammals of Western Australia Mammals of the Northern Territory Mammals of New South Wales Mammals of Queensland Mammals of Victoria (Australia) Mammals of Papua New Guinea Mammals of Western New Guinea Monotremes of New Guinea Myrmecophagous mammals Articles containing video clips Mammals described in 1792 Taxa named by George Shaw