article_snippet.sent: Beach-goers were faced with a different kind of sea creature when Beach-goers entered the water at Victoria's picturesque Rye Beach last week - a swimming echidna!
article_snippet.sent: An echidna was spotted paddling out to sea off Rye Beach, a popular surfing and fishing spot on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula .
article_snippet.sent: The video of the swimming echidna, which looks to be happily using its ant-eating snout as a snorkel, was posted online by YouTube user Emma B.
article_snippet.sent: According to Australia Zoo, echidnas, like many native Australian animals, are actually 'proficient' swimmers.
article_snippet.sent: many native Australian animals like the water so much, that Australia Zoo built a special  swimming pool for Australia Zoo echidna residents to cool off on hot summer days.
article_snippet.sent: Echidnas, like many native Australian animals, are actually 'proficient' swimmers - though many native Australian animals usually prefer fresh water to the open ocean .
article_snippet.sent: The echidna - or spiny ant-eater - is  found all over Australia, in coastal forests, alpine meadows and desert habitats.
article_snippet.sent: The echidna - or spiny live on a diet of ants, termites, grubs and worms but
article_snippet.sent: With the ABC  webbed-feet and snout in the air as a snorkle, the little echidna paddled out to sea .
highlights_snippet.sent: An echidna is filmed swimming in turquoise waters at Victoria's Rye Beach .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: The land-based mammal looks to be using its ant-eating snout as a snorkel .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Echidnas are  proficient swimmers, believed to have evolved from aquatic ancestors like the platypus .