Kid Territory:Critters: Victor the Echidna

Kids have been fascinated by Victor for decades at the San Diego Zoo. He may look like a porcupine to some, but his quills are much different. He can be gently touched by visitors if he is near the front of his enclosure.

Victor is a short-beaked (nosed) echidna, but doesn’t his “nose” look long to you? Nostrils are at the tip of his beak, and his long, sticky tongue can dart out to lap up ants in an anthill.

What great camouflage he has! Victor’s multi-colored quills help him blend in to his surroundings, and protect him from hungry predators.

Victor has a soft, hair-covered belly. He also has strong front legs with long claws that help him dig in the dirt for food or to create a safe burrow.


San Diego Zoo name: Victor
Species: Short-nosed (short-beaked) echidna or spiny anteater
Location: San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo

His story

The San Diego Zoo’s educators love asking our guests, "Which Zoo mammal do you think is the oldest?" People often guess a big animal, like an elephant or hippo. Well, our oldest elephant is "only" in her 30s, and the hippos are "just" turning 20! Surprisingly, our oldest mammal is a little guy, weighing only 17 pounds (7.7 kilograms). And he has spent almost 50 years at the Zoo, mostly asleep! He’s Victor, our echidna (pronounced eh-KID-na).

A busy fellow

Despite snoozing for nearly half a century, Victor keeps very busy as one of our animal ambassadors. He travels with the Children’s Zoo keepers and educators to animal presentations, nursing homes, hospitals, and school assemblies. He has appeared on television, in our ZOONOOZ magazine and Koala Club newsletter, and is a regular star of educational programs at the Zoo. The rest of the time, he lives in an enclosure where people can touch him if he wakes up and walks within reach.

Victor’s true identity

For his first 30 years here at the Zoo Victor’s name was Erma! Male and female echidnas look exactly the same, and we were told that we had aquired a female. But in 1986 one of his keepers was curious to know Erma’s true identity. Our veterinarians did an in-depth examination and discovered that Erma was a male! He’s been called Victor ever since.

Where you can see him

Victor lives in the Zoo’s Children’s Zoo, near the Mouse House and Petting Paddock.

More

Animal Bytes: Echidna, Porcupine
Science Projects: Spin your Eggs
Job Profiles: Taking Care of Animals, Helping Visitors
Education Programs: School Assemblies, Outreach
San Diego Zoo: Children's Zoo
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