Echidna!

During the drive back to Launceston from St. Helens, the A3 takes a winding path through the mountains.  Consequently, you can only travel at about 30mph.  Driving more slowly allowed us to spot this beautiful Short-beaked Echidna.

Like the platypus, the echidna is another Monotreme, an egg-laying mammal.  The Short-beaked Echidna used to be known as the Spiny Anteater, but has little in common with anteaters beyond diet.  This is the only species of echidna in Australia, but there are a three other species in New Guinea.  We've now seen all of the Australian monotremes!