In many ways that is actually true. So, here is a picture from my world - if you see one of these in the wild you are in Australia - or very close to it. This is an echidna - or as I was taught as a kid in biology a spiny anteater. If you dont know, this is a mammal that lays eggs and has hip bones like a reptile. But it has fur, feeds the young that hatch from the eggs on milk and is "warm blooded". There are only two other species of animals in the world remotely like it - the platypus and a much larger species of echidna.
So for your view of my world I give you that most Australian of Australians - Tachglossus aculeatus!
You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.
You can find more of my thoughts on things Australian at my other blog.
Great close up pics of the echidna Stewart. I was lucky enough to spot one in the wild a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately the zoom on my camera is nowhere as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteSo cute...i like this little guy !!
ReplyDeleteWow! What photos! Excellent ~ enjoy ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. and telling me about G+ ~ will check it out .
Not the most cuddly of animals.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome shot and what an interesting animal. I like seeing everyone's part of the world.
ReplyDeleteThat is one strange critter. Are those spines on its back like a porcupine?
ReplyDeleteWhat a series of contradictions this animal possesses. So cute though, and well captured by you.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love our echidnas, their sweet faces, their shyness and the surprising size of them. On Kangaroo Island they are much smaller than in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots Stewart, it must have felt quite comfortable around you since it did not ball up.
One weird bro! :-)
ReplyDeletewow, that is so cool! thanks for sharing this remarkable creature!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of an amazing animal. I guess things like this happen when species are left to evolve on their own.
ReplyDeleteI love these little creatures!
ReplyDeletehow cute! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Stewart, your echidna resembles something our dog uncovered in our garage a few years back, no idea how it got there.
ReplyDeleteExellent photos Stewart!Great captures!!So cute little animal!Please,i would like to see a picture of a platypus!!If you can of course!Have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteDimi..
Stewart, great photos of your Anteater. It is cool to see these critters in the wild. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is cute, but I don't know if I'd want to run into a much larger version!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteEven with the pointy spines, echidnas are so cute!
ReplyDeleteMy Aussie grandkids grow up with stuffed toy echidnas in their crib.
Well captured Stewart - I was delighted to discover my first "in the wild" Echidna only a couple of months ago during a visit to the Mornington Peninsula. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteoh you got such good up close photos too Stewart
ReplyDeleteYes, nice shots, Stewart. One night, years ago when I lived in the hills outside Mullumbimby, I came across an echidna crossing a narrow bitumen road. I stopped. It stopped. I waited for it to move on, but it didn't. Unable to drive around it, unwilling to risk trying to pass over it, and knowing that the road was used fairly frequently, I got out of the car to try to get it to the other side of the road, but I was wearing sandals, so all I could do was place the sole of one sandal against its rump and try to shove it with my heel. The problem was that it dug its claws into the bitumen and wasn't going anywhere. Rightly or wrongly, I kept shoving and eventually got it off the road, but with the incredible grip it had, it was a real struggle.
ReplyDeleteExcellent close ups. I did see one when I was in Aus but that was in a zoo. Very interesting creature as you say a real aussie.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of an interesting animal.
ReplyDeleteHe is so darn cute! I guess I wouldn't want to cuddle with it.
ReplyDeleteVery very interesting. Lays eggs and has fur too. Like the Platypus--did it get mixed up somewhere???
ReplyDeletefascinating. MB
Brilliant photos Stewart, what a fascinating little animal. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - amazing captures of this sweet creature.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos! How wonderful for you to have emigrated to echidna country!
ReplyDeleteK
Amazing photos! I thought it was a hedgehog, but I have never heard of this cute little echidna! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteWow! those pictures are fantastic! That animal looks like a porcupine!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I'd never seen that animal before.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday. ☺
They are adorable (sorry, that's my girlie response) and very interesting, indeed. At first glance I thought I was looking at a porcupine ... are those needles in the coat or just something to make it look dangerous so the predators will leave it alone. You think this animal speaks to evolution or is he just unique in a world of his own? Great post, Stewart. It is fun to come see you on off WBW days :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
I guess that amazing wild-life like this more than makes up for anything from UK that you might be missing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - lovely pictures!
So cute, Steward!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it...
Warm greetings from a wet Holland,
Anna :))
Australian wildlife is endlessly fascinating and this little chap looks kind of cute - in a spiky way!
ReplyDeleteExcellent captures!
ReplyDeleteI never knew of this animal until I learned of it in blogs from your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding creature, and this is the most outstanding I've seen it photographed!
Awe, and I just happened to see this entry when scrolling down...how adorable a little creature!
ReplyDeleteCool pictures! I don't think I'd want to pet him though.
ReplyDelete