<< Previous Next >>

On the Hunt


On the Hunt
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Collins (spike1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 507 W: 0 N: 464] (4321)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-20
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, 70-200mm/f4L
Exposure: f/6.0, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-01 7:13
Viewed: 789
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Echidnas are one of the animals that are unique to Australia.

Echidnas are small mammals that are covered with coarse hair and spines. Superficially they resemble both the anteaters of South America and other spiny mammals like hedgehogs and porcupines. They have snouts which have the functions of both the mouth and nose. Their snouts are elongated and slender. They have very short, strong limbs with large claws and are powerful diggers. Echidnas have a tiny mouth and a toothless jaw. They feed by tearing open soft logs, anthills and the like, and using their long, sticky tongue which protrudes from their snout to collect their prey. The Short-beaked Echidna's diet consists largely of ants and termites, while the Zaglossus species typically eat worms and insect larvae.

Apart from the Platypus, the four species of echidna are the only egg-laying mammals. The female lays a single soft-shelled, leathery egg twenty-two days after mating and deposits it directly into her pouch. Hatching takes ten days; the young echidna, called a puggle, then sucks milk from the pores of the two milk patches (monotremes have no nipples) and remains in the pouch for forty-five to fifty-five days, at which time it starts to develop spines. The mother digs a nursery burrow and deposits the puggle, returning every five days to suckle it until it is weaned at seven months. (Information: Wikipedia)

This photo was taken while the echidna was foraging for food on the side of the road near Alexandra, north east of Melbourne.
JohnTulip, hester, appalcarp, chrisJ, Refugee, cstathoulis has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sebcz: Hispike1 1 10-07 05:59
To appalcarp: Not sure, but...spike1 1 10-02 01:47
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • sebcz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 172 W: 31 N: 60] (869)
  • [2006-10-01 7:23]
  • [+]

It looks a bit scared, but what do we know about such creatures' mimics?:)
Good work!
Seb

Glad to see a nice new one from you Peter!
What a sticky subject your Echidnas is^_^ .. You know.. looking to it for a while I admire you for your good focus here. The little snout and little eyes are so sharp..Welldone..I like it very much and it looks like our 'hedgehogs' here in Europe ! TFS and G'day
John T

Lovely shot with a great POV. I love the sleepy eyes. Excellent details

TFS

Karan

that is a sweet face, I like yor compo, a good shot, Art

Wonderful close-up of this unique animal, Peter. Looks definitely like a 'touch-me-not' :)

If it doesn't nurse, does the mother regurgitate, then? Interesting names for the thing and it's children.

  • Great 
  • pozaru Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3565 W: 737 N: 2405] (19076)
  • [2006-10-02 2:51]

Glad to see you again Peter !
Excellent POV, compo and details.
Great portrait.


stay well,
v

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4248 W: 414 N: 6735] (42365)
  • [2006-10-02 9:06]

Hi Peter

I like the tight framing & superb sharpness (no pun intended!) Good dof & lighting. Tfs!

Excellent shot Peter. I have only seen one down here so far and that was waddling along a suburban street. They are a unique animal and the first time I actuall saw one up close I was surprised at how small they were. Excellent detail and nicely cropped. TFS,
David

Hi Pete,

I like the tight frame and expression which you caught!
Great POV & details.

Well done & TFS :)
Constantinos

What a great photo Ecky. such a cute nose and tiny eyes. It reminds me of someone....
Lovely POV and fantastic note.
Well done master...
Cheers,
Bart.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF