Echidnas

At last, a clear shot of an Echidna, surely one of our most remarkable animals.This one has a few ticks attached, but they are not life threatening.

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Short-beaked Echidna) having a paddle in a roadside gutter along the Lake St Clair Road, Tasmania.Never seen an Echidna in water before and it seemed very much at ease (the water wasn't deep). We could see the tongue flick out and I assumed it was having a drink. Fascinating to watch.

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) (Short-beaked Echidna), Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT, 19 January 2011

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) (Short-beaked Echidna), Australian National Botanic Garden, Black Mountain, Cenberra, ACT, 3 November 2011

Kingdom=AnimaliaPhylum=ChordataClass=MammaliaOrder=Monotremata Family=Tachyglossidae Genus=TachyglossusSpecies=T. aculeatusBinomial name=Tachyglossus aculeatusCommon name=Short nosed Echidna

Kingdom=AnimaliaPhylum=ChordataClass=MammaliaOrder=Monotremata Family=Tachyglossidae Genus=TachyglossusSpecies=T. aculeatusBinomial name=Tachyglossus aculeatusCommon name=Short nosed Echidna

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792) (Short-beaked Echidna), Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT, 19 January 2011

Tachyglossus aculeatus (Short-beaked Echidna) wandering along the edge of the Jordan River, Midlands, Tasmania. This was the third individual we met on the walk.

Young echidna feeding along side of road at Mt Field National Park. February 2006

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) at Lake St. Clair, Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania.

Short-beaked Echidna or Spiny Anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus aculeatus) near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Photographed on 6 July 2009.This poor fellow climbed up into a stand-alone bathtub used as a horse trough and drowned. How it climbed into the bathtub - I have no idea.

At Lloyd Jones Weir. One of two; I think this is a male as he was very busy looking around.

A foraging Echidna briefly lifts its snout out of the leaf litter.

Young, Short-beaked Echidna at Mt Field National Park, Tasmania. February 2006. This has to be a near perfect shot (the flash made him flinch slightly). This little fellow showed no fear at my presence. This is one of two egg-laying mammals that occur in Tassie. The other is the Platypus.

digging hole

curled into a protective ball

Short-beaked Echidna or Spiny Anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus aculeatus) near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Photographed on 6 July 2009.This poor fellow climbed up into a stand-alone bathtub used as a horse trough and drowned. How it climbed into the bathtub - I have no idea.

Baby

Baby

Single echidna spotted at the edge of a small dam on a hot day. It was digging around in the mud (I presume because the mud was cool). Looked calm. I watched it for approx. 5-10 mins before it walked away.

Single echidna spotted at the edge of a small dam on a hot day. It was digging around in the mud (I presume because the mud was cool). Looked calm. I watched it for approx. 5-10 mins before it walked away.

Single echidna spotted at the edge of a small dam on a hot day. It was digging around in the mud (I presume because the mud was cool). Looked calm. I watched it for approx. 5-10 mins before it walked away.