Wanted: people to track the sex lives of echidnas.

A joint study by the University of Adelaide, the Adelaide Zoo and the South Australian Museum hopes to learn more about the mating behaviour of the shy monotremes.

Radio tracking devices will be put on echidnas at Monarto open range zoo, near Murray Bridge in SA.

Volunteers are being sought for a long-term project to track the echidnas day and night.

Geneticist Dr Frank Grutzner says the findings will be used to improve captive breeding programs and could also enhance information about human evolution.

"We are really focussing on trying to find out more about the sex life of the echidnas, but I think what people are appreciating much more generally is the importance of this whole group of mammals, these egg-laying mammals," he said.

"Studying these species will also help us to understand aspects of human evolution."