![]() They scoop up insects and larvae, shellfish, and worms in their bill along with bits of gravel and mud from the bottom. These Australian mammals are bottom feeders. In this posture, a platypus can remain submerged for a minute or two and employ its sensitive bill to find food. Folds of skin cover their eyes and ears to prevent water from entering, and the nostrils close with a watertight seal. Platypuses hunt underwater, where they swim gracefully by paddling with their front webbed feet and steering with their hind feet and beaverlike tail. They have sharp stingers on the heels of their rear feet and can use them to deliver a strong toxic blow to any foe. The animal is best described as a hodgepodge of more familiar species: the duck (bill and webbed feet), beaver (tail), and otter (body and fur). In fact, the first scientists to examine a specimen believed they were the victims of a hoax. Male platypus have a small venomous barb on the back of their hind legs.The platypus is among nature's most unlikely animals.There is also no official name to refer to a baby platypus. There is no plural for platypus in English.This cool creature’s looks seem to defy nature, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Here’s some more crazy facts about platypus They can detect electric currents emitted by their preys’ small movements and use their bill to scoop animals up. Platypus do not have good eyesight underwater and must close their eyes to hunt on the river floor. They are carnivorous and enjoy eating worms, shrimp, larvae, crustaceans, and dragonflies. Platypus do not have teeth, instead, they crush their food in the grinding plates in their bill. Females typically will make two burrows, one for herself and a male, and a second for having new babies. Typically, platypus prefer relatively shallow waters and play just under the water surface. They are most commonly found near riverbanks with overhanging vegetation, roots, and logs that make it easier for the animal to construct burrows. Platypus live in the freshwater rivers of eastern Australia and Tasmania. To many peoples surprise platypus are not very big, many are smaller than the average domestic cat! ![]() Their bill is one of their most fascinating features, helping them navigate through the water and successfully hunt. Additionally, their webbed feet help to propel them through the water, allowing them to swim with ease. They have beaver-like tails used to store fat to help them dive easier. Its thick fur is waterproof and protects the animal during extreme winters. The platypus is a mishmash of other animals, but each of its features serves a purpose. However, Ornithorhynchus is nowhere near as easy to say, so the name platypus stuck and is still used today! The name platypus is almost as baffling as their appearance, so how did this word come about? Well, technically, scientifically, it isn’t anymore… The public just really liked it! Originally the animals scientific name was Platypus anatinus, meaning flat-footed and birdlike, however, it was realised that a beetle had already been assigned the genus ‘platypus.’ Naturally, there couldn’t be two animals named platypus, so the animal was renamed as Ornithorhynchus anatinus. It’s the creature so weird that scientists didn’t believe it was real! With the body and fur of an otter, the tail of a beaver, and the webbed feet and bill of a duck, it’s no wonder scientists were sceptical when they first saw a platypus! These funky Aussie animals are one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world and have earnt a reputation for their interesting appearance. What is a Platypus? These incredibly unique Aussie creatures are unlike anything else you’ve ever seen!!
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