The Ant-Eater and the Turtle single work   prose   children's   Indigenous story   dreaming story  
Note: 'A story from Oenpelli, told by Moses Mangiru, who heard it from his mother, Hanna.'
Issue Details: First known date: 1968... 1968 The Ant-Eater and the Turtle
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

While Ant-eater [the echidna] goes out to look for food, Turtle looks after baby Ant-eater. When Ant-eater has not returned by the third day, Turtle eats baby Ant-eater. Ant-eater returns and, in anger, begins to throw stones at Turtle. Turtle throws spears at Ant-eater. This is why the echidna's back is covered with spines, and the turtle's back is covered with stones.

According to this Dreaming story, 'If you look carefully you can see the little baby ant-eater in the turtle's mouth'. Source: Aboriginal Children's Stories (1968)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Aboriginal Children's Stories W. D. Nicol (editor), E. C. Nicol (editor), Darwin : Northern Territory Administration , 1968 Z1423886 1968 anthology prose children's Indigenous story dreaming story A collection of stories retold by the Aboriginal teaching assistants of Kormilda College, Darwin, with acknowledgement to original story-tellers and collectors of Indigenous stories. Darwin : Northern Territory Administration , 1968 pg. 2-8
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Last amended 21 Oct 2010 13:47:05
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  • Oenpelli / Gunbalunya, West Arnhem Land, Arnhem Land, Top End, Northern Territory,
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