Using the App

Here you will find short guides on how to log information into the EchidnaCSI app.
You can also find information on how to identify a scat.

What to do if you see an echidna? 
Open the app, go to the ‘submit’ page and select ‘record an echidna sighting’. Your camera will pop up so you can take a photo. Once you have taken a photo select ‘use photo’. A new page will open where we ask you some questions about the echidna, e.g. if it was alive or dead, walking or digging, a juvenile or adult, and a section for you to add any interesting comments if you wish. Then you submit your recording! We will be sent the photo with the GPS location and the information about that echidna.
 
What to do if you find an echidna scat? 
Open the app, go to the ‘submit’ page and select ‘collect specimen’. Your camera will pop up so you can take a photo of the scat first. We need this photo so we can get it’s GPS location to match the sample. A new page will appear asking you to get an envelope or bag and to write the date, time and your name on it. This is so we can identify which submission it belongs to once we receive it. The next page will instruct you to place the scat in the envelope/bag trying not to touch it. We then give you information on how to send us your collection.
 
What to do if you find a dead echidna? 
As molecular biologists, the tissue from deceased echidnas is very useful for our research. If you happen to come across one please contact us. If you can collect the echidna safely (be careful if on a road) it is best to place it in a freezer if possible. If in South Australia we can then organise drop off/collection of the animal. If interstate please contact us for more details.

How do I identify an echidna scat?
Echidna scats (their poo) are quite distinguishable. They are unique as they are long and thick and very dry in texture. Unlike many other animals that have small pellet-like scats. You also should be able to spot lots of ants in echidna scats (shown in image below) as this is what they eat. Take a look at the figures below that show you what an echidna scat looks like and how they compare to other native animals.

Example of what an echidna scat looks like. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

Echidna scat clearly showing the abundance of ant and termite exoskeletons within it. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

Comparison of scats from a variety of native Australian mammals. As you can see the short-beaked echidna scat has a distinctively long and cylinder shape to it and can be easily identified. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

For more information regarding the EchidnaCSI Project please email us:
 echidnacsi@adelaide.edu.au
Or find us on facebook:
www.facebook.com/EchidnaCSI

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