At the Platypus House at Beauty Point, Tasmania, you’ll also find echidnas that have been found, often injured, and taken into captivity to lead a long, protected life.
The monotreme is covered in sharp quills, making it a good entry in Denzil’s Nature Photo challenge this week. The claws, rear ones facing backwards, are also sharp.
Apparently their sticky, long, bug-catching tongues are not sharp, but slippery.
Underdown 
I remember visiting this place. Really informative and I think there was a Seahorse exhibit next door?
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Yes! The rest of my group weren’t interested in the seahorses so I’m definitely going back to see them one day.
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Very curious creatures.
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My friends, or the seahorses?
Sent from my iPhone
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The Seahorses!
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Very cool photos. I wouldn’t want to mess with those claws, or the spines for that matter!
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The handlers say that they have to be really careful. Sometimes in their affection the little spike balls do some damage.
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Cool photos. 😀 😀
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Cool characters.
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These are sort-of cute, in a very sharp way!
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They are VERY cute. We sat down and they walked around us, their 20cm tongues flashing out when they saw insects. The handler said they form close relationships with the echidnas but had to be mindful of those spikes.
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A most apposite submission to my nature photo challenge! Thanks.
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My pleasure.
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