Echidnas are primitive egg laying mammals that feed on ants and termites. They are so primitive that they don't have nipples, the milk that it feeds its young is exuded straight through the skin. They are fairly common here and there is no shortage of food for them in the bush. They dig into ant nests and then using their really long sticky tongue they just lick the ants out of all the nooks and cranies. This one was trying its luck under a neighbors carport.

If echidnas become aware of something out of the ordinary they dig into the ground so that the only part of them that is exposed is there spines. No animal would want to mess with one of these. The spines are made from modified hairs and are extremely sharp.