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gentle lemur

Short-nosed echidna

Active in the late afternoon - to the mystification of visitors. Exhibit next to red pandas, Paignton, February 19th 2012.

Short-nosed echidna
gentle lemur, 22 Feb 2012
    • gentle lemur
      Active in the late afternoon - to the mystification of visitors.
      Exhibit next to red pandas, Paignton, February 19th 2012.
    • Stefka
      Great shot. Such a beautiful animal!
    • gentle lemur
      Thank you. I think the dirty nose spoils his beauty a little; but I find him utterly fascinating. I am glad he is not particularly sensitive, because all the visitors called him a hedgehog or a porcupine (I would have congratulated anyone who suggested a tenrec ;)). I kept directing them to the details on the exhibit's label.

      Alan
    • Jordan-Jaguar97
      Jealous of the fantastic photo.:D

      I wonder how old she is, I only found out recently that they live til' about 49/50.
    • gentle lemur
      Thank you. I prefer the shot I took a moment after this one, but I'm happy with both - except that I had to set the ISO higher than I like ideally.
      ISIS says she is a he ;)
      Did you see them on the last episode of Richard Fortey's series about 'living fossils'? He showed a skull which had a big bulging braincase and talked to a specialist who enthused about their abilities. I don't think of termite specialists as showing much intelligence (you couldn't fit much brain into a giant anteater's skull) but perhaps echidnas are different :)

      Alan
    • Jordan-Jaguar97
      Oooo! Sorry I also thought it was a she.:D I didn't unfortunately however I do plan to*. Echidnas are different, there very different.:p

      * I've Sky+ it.
    • Brum
      The echidna is always a highlight of my visits to Paignton and I'm extremely impressed with this shot! :D On my last visit, he was curled up under the heat lamp and no-one other than me paid any attention, they were more interested in the red pandas! Bloody philistines... ;)
    • zoogiraffe
      The female died down the burrow quite a few years ago now!
    • Stefka
      HavenĀ“t heard of this series, where can I watch/download/buy it?
    • Hix
      While echidnas prefer termites (particularly larvae), I don't consider them termite specialists as they also feed on ants, earthworms, the larvae of beetles and moths and smallish beetles.

      :p

      Hix
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  • Category:
    Paignton Zoo
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    gentle lemur
    Date:
    22 Feb 2012
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    Width:
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    Make:
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    Model:
    NIKON D300S
    Date / Time:
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    Focal Length:
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