It took but a minute to realize that it was a Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), one of two egg-laying mammals, or monotremes, in Australia. In fact, monotremes are confined to Australia and Papua New Guinea, and are represented only by echidnas and the Platypus (Ornithorynchus anatinus).
At first blush this strange creature vaguely resembles a hedgehog or porcupine, but it is in fact quite different.
They have short, powerful limbs with five toes and strong spatulate claws, used in digging out termites and ants, the favourite food of the echidna. Males have a non-venomous spur on the hindleg.
They like to rest under a bush, or in hollow logs or a burrow. Given the abundance of burrows used by shearwaters and penguins on Philip Island, an echidna would doubtless have little trouble finding one to suit its needs.
Their insect prey is lapped up with their long tongues, having been detected by smell or by minute electrical signals in receptors in the snout.
If threatened they tend to bury themselves into the ground as quickly as possible or retreat to their burrows. This is quite unlike the hedgehog which rolls into a ball, or the porcupine which turns its back to its attacker and raises its quills, which dislodge easily causing great pain to any careless adversary.
It was a great pleasure for us to encounter this unique creature and it gave us added appreciation of the special and distinctive wildlife of Australia.
I have now visited the Island Continent twice and on neither occasion have I been able to find a Platypus. Next time for sure!
Are you listening, Stewart?
