Short-beaked echidna
This cute Echidna was found roaming around sugarloaf reservoir in Victoria, Australia. It is one of the four extant species of echidnas and belongs to the species Tachyglossus aculeatus (Monotrematae - Tachyglossidae), better known as Short-beaked echidna.
Tachyglossus aculeatus is the only species of the genus, and can be found throughout southern and eastern New Guinea, mainland Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Tasmania.
Did you know that the longest recorded lifespan for Tachyglossus aculeatus is 50 years in captivity?. There are anecdotal accounts of wild individuals living as long as 45 years. There is no doubt this species is particularly long-lived, especially for its size. A lifespan of 50 years is 3.7 times longer than would be expected based on echidna body size.
Reference: [1]
Photo credit: ©Jarrod Calati
Locality: Victoria, Australia.
(via typhlonectes)