short-beaked echidna; spiny anteater
Refers to the egg-laying mammal native to Australia and New Guinea. In everyday Japanese, ハリモグラ is the standard term.
The echidna is an unusual mammal that lives in Australia.
A baby echidna was born at the zoo.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; rarely used compared to the katakana form.
Full kanji spelling with 土竜 for 'mole'; very rare and mainly of etymological interest.
Compound of 針 (hari, 'needle') and 土竜 (mogura, 'mole'), referring to its spiny appearance and mole-like digging habits. The katakana spelling is now standard.