A rare short-beaked echidna puggle has emerged at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

The puggle is estimated to be about seven months old and was born to experience mum Ganyi. 

It is very rare to get up close to echidna puggles as they spend the first couple of months of their life in a deep burrow that their mum makes.

Echidnas, although iconic, are unusual animals known as monotremes – mammals that lay eggs.

Despite being warm-blooded, their young puggles are hatched from eggs and mothers produce milk for their puggles in their makeshift pouch.

This little puggle, which is yet to be named is progressing well, currently weighing in at 1.7kg and displaying natural behaviours like foraging and digging.

At around seven months of age puggle mums with continue with their own life and leave the puggle to fend for itself.

This is the 10th puggle to be born at Taronga Zoo Sydney since the development of the echidna breeding facility.