By Brasen Tham (Y12)
Imagine an animal with the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the feet of an otter. Sounds made up, right? Yet this incredible creature is completely real, it’s none other than the platypus, one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. Native only to Australia, the platypus has fazed scientists and continues to amaze people with its unique features and strange behaviours.
A Creature That Confused Science
When British scientists first discovered these creatures in the late 1700s, they believed that the platypus was a hoax, a duck bill stitched together into the body of a mammal. Only after further research did the observers realize that the platypus was not a trick but a completely unique species, one that did not neatly fit into any categories they knew of.
The platypus is a mammal, but it does not behave like one. For one thing, it lays eggs, a trait usually reserved for birds and reptiles. Along with the echidnas, another Australian native species, it belongs to a unique group called monotremes. These two species of monotremes are the only egg-laying mammals in existence today.
A Special Way of Hunting
Platypus are expert swimmers, living in freshwaters in eastern Australia and Tasmania. They spend much of their time underwater hunting for food. Their bodies are perfectly built for this lifestyle as they are equipped with webbed feet for paddling, dense waterproof fur for warmth, and a flat tail to store fat for energy.
What is especially fascinating is how they hunt. When platypuses dive, they close their eyes, ears and nostrils, which means they are unable to see or hear their prey. Instead, platypuses use electroreceptions sensors that use tiny electrical signals produced by the muscle and nerves of other animals, allowing them to “feel” where their prey is hiding.
Eggs, Milk, and a Hidden Weapon; The Platypus is Full of Surprises
Female platypuses lay one to three eggs at a time, curling their bodies around them to keep them warm. Once hatched, the babies, called puggles, are tiny, blind, and helpless. The mother nurses them, but here’s another twist: she doesn’t have nipples. Instead, the babies receive milk through pores in the mother’s skin.
Meanwhile, the Male platypuses are equipped with something no other mammals have; venomous spurs on their hind legs. During the breeding season, males can deliver painful stings to rivals or unlucky humans who get too close. Fair warning to anyone planning to visit Australia during the Winter Break!