Short-beaked Echidna

Notes:

This echidna came foraging near our campsite at Nuga Nuga National Park. It pretended to be asleep when we got up close to it to take a picture. Echidnas are about the size of a soccer ball. They are seriously cool (and bizarre) animals... - They are one of only two monotremes (egg-laying mammals) in the world (the other is the platypus); - The toes on their back feet point backwards to help them effectively burrow into the ground (it is almost impossible to dislodge an echidna that is 'burrowed in'); - The earliest fossils of the short-beaked echidna date back around 15 million years ago and are almost identical to contemporary echidnas; - Male echidnas have a four-headed penis (yes, really - http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2... - During mating season, up to 10 males will follow one female around for up to four weeks, forming 'echidna trains'; - Baby echidnas are called 'puggles' - here are some pics and videos of one being cared for at Taronga Zoo last year (prepare for the cuteness!!!): http://taronga.org.au/blog/2012-10-23/ta.... This is just a taste of the weirdness... check out the referenced links to learn more! : )