Why Do Echidnas Blow Snot Bubbles And Do Belly Flops?


New research has found that Echidnas blow snot bubbles and do belly flops to keep themselves cool in the Australian heat. The native animals are believed to be less tolerant to hot weather than other Australian species. Their spines act like a blanket, and the animals cannot pant, sweat or lick themselves to cool down. But thanks to infrared cameras, researchers have now discovered unique methods they use to release heat. Echidnas have long been known to blow bubbles of mucus out of their noses, but it was believed this was primarily to clear dirt from their snouts. What do you think LiveTribers? Why do echidnas blow snot bubbles and do belly flops?

Posted by on 16 Feb 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    samsterchan

    A bit of a waste of money and time seriously !

    Posted by samsterchan on 25 Mar 2023

  • [0] [0]
    John

    Sound like typical Aussies. Don't we do these things?

    Posted by John on 08 Mar 2023

  • [0] [0]
    yelsha42

    It's the first I'm hearing about it, so really don't know

    Posted by yelsha42 on 06 Mar 2023

  • [0] [0]
    kendallx3

    Wonders of nature

    Posted by kendallx3 on 06 Mar 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Jigsaw

    Who even thinks of these things !?

    Posted by Jigsaw on 06 Mar 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Miro

    Just shows you learn something new every day! Does not transfer to infants.

    Posted by Miro on 26 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    issyfoundthebeat

    I didn't know that, gosh they're cute little creatures.

    Posted by issyfoundthebeat on 26 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Farrukh

    Well that’s their way to cope with the heat.

    Posted by Farrukh on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Alex!20

    Wonderful. Wouldn't we all like to do that sometimes? I think it's a great fun topic.

    Posted by Alex!20 on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Ally42

    I guess they just learned to deal with the heat this way as they can't in other ways that different Aussie species can.

    Posted by Ally42 on 19 Feb 2023

  • [1] [0]
    leann

    Sounds a lot like my ex husband

    Posted by leann on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    tutti_cutie

    That’s interesting, learnt something today!

    Posted by tutti_cutie on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    anniet

    I haven’t heard of much research on echidnas but what a fascinating animal! Can get too close to those spines!

    Posted by anniet on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Bodhi

    They are just children who need looking after put them in day care

    Posted by Bodhi on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Sammbo

    Actually they blow air to clear ant's nest

    Posted by Sammbo on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Ana

    I think they were preforming for the camera.

    Posted by Ana on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    possum71

    I can understand the belly flop on some nice cool earth but the snot bubbles that's a bit yucky. They are adorable though and I do believe we can get them here but because they are nocturnal we haven't seen any although we have seen scratchings at the bottom of a gum tree that may have been one.

    Posted by possum71 on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Tara Rata

    Who cares why they do it. They are so cute!

    Posted by Tara Rata on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    Busy Bee

    I have no idea why they do it but they would look mighty cute when they do it.

    Posted by Busy Bee on 19 Feb 2023

  • [2] [0]
    merryl

    Echidnas do this because they are living their best lives and do not care what us mere humans think.

    Posted by merryl on 19 Feb 2023

  • [0] [0]
    sandra

    I love it! Perhaps Echidnas are the original rebels; they are certainly different from other creatures so perhaps they do it just because they can. Perhaps they are blowing snot as a statement against all the craziness in the world. Wonderful. Wouldn't we all like to do that sometimes? I think it's a great fun topic. Thank you - I'll never think of Echidnas in the same way again :)

    Posted by sandra on 19 Feb 2023

  • [1] [0]
    Jibberman

    Just another example of the wonders of nature.

    Posted by Jibberman on 19 Feb 2023

  • [1] [1]
    samsterchan

    This topic stinks.

    Posted by samsterchan on 19 Feb 2023

  • [1] [1]
    Paula

    Why should we care?

    Posted by Paula on 17 Feb 2023

  • [1] [0]
    Chippy Minton

    Because that's how they roll.

    Posted by Chippy Minton on 17 Feb 2023

  • [3] [1]
    mact

    Do we reslly need to know or care.....geez who thinks of these topics!!!!!????

    Posted by mact on 16 Feb 2023

  • [1] [1]
    ere

    Whoever thinks up these stupid topics has much too much spare time on their hands and should get themselves a real job.

    Posted by ere on 19 Feb 2023

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