Cute and cuddly? Think again! These incredible river-dwelling creatures are not as harmless as they seem! Take a look at nature’s frankenstien, the platypus!

Onithorygnchus Anatinus, more commonly known as the Platypus is a mammal. This means that its blood is warm. It is also part of the chordate phylum.

Platypus can be found in rives or streams. Although they live in a stream of a certain temperature, when hunting, they move to colder streams, as their prey only live in those colder waters.

As far as physical appearance, platypus are 43-50cm long, they have a duck like black bill, and a plump body covered in sleek brown fur, and their tail is almost just an extension of their main body. Because of their frankenstien appearance, when they were first discovered and presented to the English government, they thought that they were tricked. You could see how they would believe that! The explorers were met with a nasty shock too. Also because of their appearance, the explorers thought that they were dealing with a harmless animal. But when they found the creature’s bill around their finger, they discovered that a male platypus’ bite is poisonous. But more importantly, it hurts!

Platypus are bottomfeeders, that means that they feed on small crustaceans, or in other words, shellfish. Another magnificent thing about the platypus’ bill, is that they can use it like a radar, sensing life in the area. The animal doesn’t even have to move! They sense the electrical currents created by the other animals. Electricity is conducted by water, so they can trace it back to the animal. Clever, right?

The platypus’ venom is an example of a physiological adaptation. Their body injects the venom when the platypus bites the target. Depending on the size of the victim, the venom can make it very sick, or possibly kill it!

I have learned a lot about the platypus over the past few weeks. This was a really fun way to learn about the environment.

I found a lot of this information at:

https://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/home#article/ar831783

and in the book The A-Z of Australian Animals, by Jennifer Cossins.

 

What is your favourite animal?

Do you have any fun facts about it?