Animal profiles is a documentation of interesting animals. Enjoy my weekly profiles.

Name: Victor
Age: Over 56 years old
Species: Echidna

Native to Australia the echidna is the one of two species of mammals that hatch from an egg (the other one is the platypus). It's true, the females will lay a soft leathery egg about the size of a ping-pong ball. About ten days later a baby is hatched and that baby will nurse from mom. The quills you see are simply modified hairs; they grow from follicles just like hair and are made of the same protein as hair. Not only did Victor hatch from an egg (which is pretty cool for a mammal) but he also ranks as one of the oldest non-human mammals at the zoo!

Special thanks to the San Diego Zoo for lending me Animal Ambassador Rick Schwartz and opening the zookeeper doors.

Other Animal Profiles
Prehensile Tailed Porcupine http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-726400

About the San Diego Zoo

The 100-acre San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections.

The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as the Wild Animal Park), which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.