There are four different species of echidna in the world. This is the short-beaked echidna. They are interesting little mammals in the monotreme order. Monotremes are the only mammals that lay eggs. Their namesake “beak” allows short-beaked echidnas to suck up ants and other insects from the ground at an impressive speed. I spotted this one along the side of a road in Cradle Mountain National Park in Tasmania, Australia. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.
It’s both a strange, yet darling, critter. It has kind of a porcupine look to it. It also makes me mindful of a boot scraper I once used – but, only once! I had no idea that any mammal laid eggs, so thank you for that bit of wildlife trivia, Sean.
——- In the world of unusual beasts
——- Tasmania is a champ
——- Home of the monotremes
——- Mammals with a birds equipment
——- Who lay eggs
——- Monotreme means one hole or
——- With Steve Irwins’ voice in my
——- Ear , THE CLOACA .
Cute creature. Had no idea about the eggs. Had to idea this little creative even existed! If I was an elementary school science teacher, I’d use your photos of the day for education!
School teachers everywhere could benefit by using Sean’s wonderful images & his brief, yet informative, comments. I once had an eighth grade teacher who posted a clever quote on the blackboard each day. It is roughly 50 years later & I recall my favorite: “The problem with doing nothing is you can’t take any time off.”. Imagine which of Sean’s images might be recalled by a former student, half a century later, if school teachers shared his POTD each morning. Just imagine!
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It’s both a strange, yet darling, critter. It has kind of a porcupine look to it. It also makes me mindful of a boot scraper I once used – but, only once! I had no idea that any mammal laid eggs, so thank you for that bit of wildlife trivia, Sean.
It does remind me of those boot scrapers too. I never knew about a mammal that laid eggs. A good trivia question.
——- In the world of unusual beasts
——- Tasmania is a champ
——- Home of the monotremes
——- Mammals with a birds equipment
——- Who lay eggs
——- Monotreme means one hole or
——- With Steve Irwins’ voice in my
——- Ear , THE CLOACA .
Cute creature. Had no idea about the eggs. Had to idea this little creative even existed! If I was an elementary school science teacher, I’d use your photos of the day for education!
School teachers everywhere could benefit by using Sean’s wonderful images & his brief, yet informative, comments. I once had an eighth grade teacher who posted a clever quote on the blackboard each day. It is roughly 50 years later & I recall my favorite: “The problem with doing nothing is you can’t take any time off.”. Imagine which of Sean’s images might be recalled by a former student, half a century later, if school teachers shared his POTD each morning. Just imagine!