The platypus is the most incredible creature on Earth – and these 7 facts prove it

1/7/2020

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Nature Story: The platypus is the most incredible creature on Earth – and these 7 facts prove it

The platypus has the bill of a duck, the tail and body of a beaver, webbed front feet and no stomach. This wonderful mammal is more incredible than a unicorn, yet it exists and amazes us with its astonishing features.

#1 Platypuses are mammals that retain some reptilian characteristics other mammals have lost more than 165 million years ago – for example, they lay eggs

Nature Story: #1 Platypuses are mammals that retain some reptilian characteristics other mammals have lost more than 165 million years ago – for example, they lay eggs — shutterstock

#2 As they don't have teats, female platypuses feed their babies by secreting milk through their skin, which makes the milk look like sweat

Nature Story: #2 As they don't have teats, female platypuses feed their babies by secreting milk through their skin, which makes the milk look like sweat — shutterstock

#3 Platypuses' milk has incredibly antimicrobial properties, which helps them to protect their babies from illness while feeding

#4 The platypus' duck-bill serves like an antenna, allowing it to sense the faint electric fields generated by living organisms, which means platypuses can locate their prey using nothing but the bill. They feed on worms, shrimp, crayfish, and insect larvae

Nature Story: #4 The platypus' duck-bill serves like an antenna, allowing it to sense the faint electric fields generated by living organisms, which means platypuses can locate their prey using nothing but the bill. They feed on worms, shrimp, crayfish, and insect larvae — shutterstock

#5 Male platypuses are one of the few venomous mammals on Earth: they have spurs on each ankle connected to poison glands in their thighs. They use their venom against predators and other platypuses when they fight for territory

#6 The platypus doesn't have a stomach: its gullet is directly connected to its intestines

#7 Platypuses are born with teeth but lose them at an early age. They grind down food with the help of rough pads inside their bill, also using gravel or dirt to make it faster

Nature Story: #7 Platypuses are born with teeth but lose them at an early age. They grind down food with the help of rough pads inside their bill, also using gravel or dirt to make it faster — shutterstock

Have you ever seen a platypus? Or would you like to? Which fact about this animal surprised you the most?

Tell us in the comments!

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

58 Comments

Michele Dix

Yes I have seen platypus , actually more than one. As a 10 or 11 yr old child I had the privilege of holding a baby platypus that 7 or 8 yr old brother found stranded between rocks in an area called Mullumbimby in northern NSW . There had been a lot of rain an this little creature had obviously been washed downstream. We all had a chance to hold it and it was the size of my hand. We left it with the friends we had been visiting. It was found less than five minutes from their home / banana farm. I have no idea if they took it back up stream to the pond in the river there. Hope it survived. That was over 60yrs ago now. Have seen others at various other places too

Juju Gibs

Yes I have seen several platypuses and held two. Their fur is very soft and waterproof and Bill is rubbery and flexible and full of sensory organs. They hunt for their food with eyes and ears tightly shut, sensing electrical impulses from their prey. They are only small about 30 to50 cm long.

Juju Gibs

They are born with an egg tooth (rather than teeth) to break through the shell of their rubbery egg as they hatch.

Corol Wade Bevier

A truly amazing creature.

Vibeke Streeval

I had no idea that they (males) were poisonous.

dmarkc

Angelarael, how so? Just yanking your chain.

Joy Holbrook

As a child, we had several living in the creek on our farm. I would sit for hours during school holidays just watching their comings and goings. I never attempted to catch them, because they are incredibly timid creatures and easily stressed.