I. ə̇ˈkidnə, ēˈ-, eˈ- noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, viper, from Greek — more at anguis
1. -s
a. : an oviparous burrowing nocturnal mammal ( Tachyglossus aculeatus ) of the order Monotremata native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea that is somewhat larger than a hedgehog and has the hair of the skin mingled with spines on the upper part of the body, the snout long and tapering, the mouth wholly toothless with a long extensile tongue adapted for feeding on ants, the salivary glands enlarged, and the claws long and heavy
b. : a member of a related New Guinea genus ( Zaglossus ) having three claws on each foot
2. capitalized : a genus of moray eels that are usually rather small with strikingly marbled and reticulated patterns on the body surface
[s]echidna.jpg[/s]
II.
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, viper
synonym of tachyglossus
III.
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, viper
synonym of bitis