This video was composed from a collection photos and videos of a puggle (baby Echidna) taken over an eight month period. Time lapsed from the day it came into care to the first day it was released onto the ground to forage on its own for native food.
Few people have seen these mammals from their early stage of development through to fully spined/developed Echidna. The puggle was just 82gm when it came into care just the size of a golf ball, sadly mum had been hit by a car and passed away from her injuries. As you watch the video you can see it feeding milk and start to develop spines, next comes eyes, then the ears. As puggle continues to develop you will see it begins to be able to support its body weight on its legs and finally walk.
Puggles do not open their mouth like other animals, they only have an opening big enough to allow the sticky tongue to slide in and out feeding on milk while in the nursery burrow, After they leave the burrow around 10 months of age they have to fend for themselves and forage through leave little under logs to catch food of tiny insects and ants, and dig into mounds for termites.
(The video has no audio)