(Japanese: ナックルズ・ザ・エキドゥナ, Hepburn: Nakkuruzu za Ekiduna) is a fictional character and one of the main characters in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a red anthropomorphic short-beaked echidna who is Sonic's former foil and recurring ally. He is determined and serious, but sometimes gullible. He has the ability toglide and climb up walls, and is a powerful fighter with spiked hands.