Around 2 years of age, both male and female platypuses are ready to mate.Īfter successfully mating, two or three eggs develop in the female. The platypus mating season is between June and October. They fight to show dominance and scare away potential mating rivals. While this weapon is used against predators if threatened (the platypus would actually rather run than fight), it is primarily used against other male platypuses during mating season. The spurs release enough toxic venom to kill a small animal or be incredibly painful for a human. The male platypus also possesses two small spurs, one on each hind paw. Although they have no teeth, platypuses have grinding pads in their mouths to crush and grind their food. The platypus will then store the food in its cheeks and wait to resurface before eating. These help the platypus find worms and freshwater shrimp to feed on. The bill, which is actually a soft, leathery snout, has electro-receptors that pick up on the small electrical signals sent by animals when they move. In order to hunt, it relies on its bill to sense other animals. While submerged underwater, the platypus closes its eyes and ears. Although you would think their wide tails are used to propel them while swimming like a beaver, they are actually used to store fat. Naturally buoyant, platypuses must keep swimming in order to stay underwater. Webbed paws and short legs that protrude from the sides of the body allow it to swim and dive with ease. The thick hair is waterproof and helps keep the platypus warm and dry when in the water, where it spends most of its time. It is covered in thick, dark brown hair over most its body. Roughly the size of a house cat, the platypus is between 30-60 cm (12-24 in.) in length and weighs 1-2 kg (2-4 lb.). You have the platypus, a monotreme (an egg-laying mammal) that is indigenous to freshwater rivers and lakes in eastern Australia and Tasmania. Add to the list the ability to lay lizard-like eggs and shoot poison out of your foot, and you have a unique creature indeed. An animal with a bill like a duck, a tail like a beaver, and feet like an otter sounds like something a mad scientist would create.
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