All About Platypuses

Written by: Paige Leal

After watching a T.V show such as the Disney cartoon, Phineas and Ferb, many people envision a  platypus as the secret agent Perry the platypus, he is a blueish green color with a brown fedora saving the day. While in reality, platypuses are not actually fighting Dr. Doofenshmirtz, but they do live pretty interesting lives with unique features. 

The platypus is one of the most unusual animals on Earth, and it doesn’t really look like any other creatures. It’s a mammal that lives in Australia, but unlike most mammals, it lays eggs instead of giving birth.The platypus also has features of many different animals, a duck bill, webbed feet like a frog, dense fur like an otter, and a tail somewhat like a beaver’s.

Where They Live

Platypuses live in freshwater environments in eastern Australia, such as rivers, streams, and lakes. They spend a lot of time in the water, especially when hunting for food, while also digging burrows in riverbanks where they sleep and raise their offspring. These burrows can be long and complex, providing protection from heat and predators.

Diet & Hunting

Platypuses eat insects, insect larvae, worms, and shellfish. Most of their diet consists of things that live on the bottom of rivers and streams. In order to eat, they use their bills to scoop up food and grind it with special hard pads in their mouths instead of chewing. Interestingly, when a platypus closes its eyes and ears underwater, its bill still detects movement and electrical signals from prey, helping it hunt in murky water where seeing is difficult. 

Unique Features

One of the most surprising things about male platypuses is that they are venomous, there are spurs on their hind legs that can deliver a painful toxin. The venom isn’t deadly to humans, but it can cause intense pain and swelling. Another unique feature is platypuses' thick, waterproof fur, which keeps them warm and dry in cold water. This coat is magical in how it can trap air allowing them to float and stay insulated during long swims. 

Why Platypuses Are Special

The platypus challenges the usual ideas about mammals. While most mammals give birth and hunt by looking or smelling their prey, platypuses lay eggs, hunt with an electric sense, and even have venom. These traits are more a mix of birds, reptiles, and mammals, which is pretty amazing for just one animal to contain these tricks and skills. Today, platypuses are celebrated as one of nature’s most fascinating evolutionary species.