The Enigmatic Echidna: Secrets of the World’s Most Curious Creature (Danielle Clode, Black Inc.)

In The Enigmatic Echidna: Secrets of the World’s Most Curious Creature, biologist and award-winning author Danielle Clode (Koala: A Life in Trees) draws readers into the fascinating world of one of Australia’s most unusual mammals, sharing knowledge in an accessible and enjoyable way. Her scientific background and respect for her subject shine through, resulting in a book rich with intriguing facts and delightfully poetic turns of phrase. The structure follows a broadly chronological path through evolutionary biology and natural history, with forays into geography, ecology, conservation and other areas of research. Clode explores the integral role various First Nations peoples played in building knowledge about monotremes – the rare egg-laying mammals – noting how local expertise was historically overlooked in favour of overseas scientists publishing theories based on analyses of decaying specimens. She acknowledges that much remains unknown about these amazing creatures, fostering a sense of wonder. Clode leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation for future discoveries and the knowledge that the rehabilitation of injured echidnas offers scope for research, although it can be difficult to delineate the difference between behaviour in captivity and behaviour in the wild, not to mention that echidnas are great escape artists, thanks to their strength, speed and intelligence. The Enigmatic Echidna is ideal for biology students, readers interested in natural history and anyone who enjoys diving into a topic and learning something new.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Ellie Pope is a librarian and avid reader who is passionate about literature. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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