This is about the speed with which the echidna uses its tongue to catch ants and termites . The word aculeatus means `` spiny '' or `` equipped with spines '' . The name Tachyglossus means `` quick tongue '' , in reference to the speed with which the Echidna uses its tongue to catch ants and termites , and aculeatus means `` spiny '' or `` equipped with spines '' .