A grazier has found a rare albino echidna near Tambo, south-east of Longreach in western Queensland.

Grazier John Jones from south of Tambo came across the white echidna on a property he manages, saying he has never seen anything like it.

He took it to the local school to show children and teachers.

"I don't know whether the smaller children realise the significance that they may never seen one ever again," he said.

"All its points - its toenails and little face - is pink, the quills are completely white.

"It seems to have a white fur on the body covering, under the quills.

"I have not come across anyone yet who has seen one."

Mr Jones says he has now released the echidna back into the bush.

Rare find

Queensland Museum senior curator Dr Steve Van Dyck says he sees more albino echidnas than any other albino animals.

"The echnidas don't really have that many predators, so the survival chances ... in a white echnida are much much better than say the survival chances in a white rat," he said.

"We probably see more of these things because they are not knocked off naturally in the population."

But he says the rate of albinism still makes it a once-in-a-lifetime find.

"It's rare - in animals, in mammals - it is probably one-in-10,000," he said.

"To most people, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

"I'm only in a position of luxury - I am in a position where people would report these things to me.

"Albinos have always been prized in society for their rarity - people have always loved them."