One of Australia's unique animals, the Echidna, or Spiny Anteater, is an egg laying marsupial mammal. They are not to be confused with the Northern Hemisphere Hedgehogs. Their diet is almost exclusively ants and termites. They are not often seen being very well camouflaged. This one was making a perilous road crossing when spotted. If attacked they can very quickly burrow into the ground leaving only their spiny armour visible.

[Michael Piziak]

Nice shot of a very unique creature. They can have all the ants and termites they can find, I say!

[Sdenby]

Nice picture!
I've never seen one of these in person. Very cool.

[Na Horuk]

Very cool creature, thanks for sharing, but I guess he didn't really want to model for the camera

[RobG]

Nice one Bruce! It looks like the Echidnas in the Otways are furrier than the ones up north! BTW technically the Echidna is a monotreme not a marsupial. Someone picked me up on that point when I said the same thing! There's only three surviving monotremes - the Platypus, and the short and long beaked Echidnas.

PS I rescued one from crossing the Hume freeway, so good on you for ensuring that this one made it safely off the road!

[gmans]

Good One, Echidna you not.