Era:
Upper Pleistocene (From two million to 11 thousand years ago; extensive glaciation of the northern hemisphere; the time of human evolution).

Classification:
The giant echidna was a marsupial mammal, a monotreme. Zaglossus hacketti is known from just a few bones.

Description:
The giant echidna stood more erect than the echidna we see today. It had a long snout that curved downwards and it was about three times larger than the modern echidna. At a metre long, it was huge not only for an echidna but for monotremes in general.

Distribution:
The giant echidna lived all over Australia about 3 million years ago; until about 20,000 years ago they were still alive in Tasmania.

What did it eat ?
The giant echidna ate termites, worms, grubs and beetles.

How did it protect itself ?
The giant echidna could form itself into a spiny ball to protect itself.