Platypus
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Meet the Platypus
The platypus is a unique, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is known for its distinctive duck-bill, webbed feet, and beaver-like tail, which make it easily recognizable. As one of the only egg-laying mammals (monotremes), the platypus exhibits a fascinating blend of reptilian and mammalian traits. It is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time underwater, foraging for food along riverbeds. Despite its unusual appearance, the platypus is well-adapted to its environment and is a remarkable example of evolutionary diversity.
Wikipedia Data 🎥 6 Videos 📚 5 Sources Classification
Mammal
Habitat
Freshwater rivers and streams
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
10-17 years
Conservation
Near Threatened
Weight
0.7-2.4 kg
📖Fascinating Facts
Duck-Billed Mammal
The platypus has a bill that resembles that of a duck, but it's a sensitive organ packed with electroreceptors used to detect prey underwater.
Egg-Laying Mammal
Unlike most mammals, the platypus lays eggs and incubates them in a burrow until they hatch, a rare trait among mammals.
Venomous Spur
Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs that can deliver a painful sting to predators or rivals.
📋Detailed Description
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a highly distinctive monotreme, measuring 39–60 cm (15–24 in) in total length and weighing between 0.7 and 2.4 kg (1.5–5.3 lb), with males generally larger than females. Its most recognizable feature is its broad, flat, sensitive bill, which is covered in electroreceptors that detect the weak electric fields generated by the muscle contractions of prey. The body is streamlined and covered in dense, waterproof fur that insulates against cold water. The limbs are short and robust, with webbed feet adapted for swimming; the webbing retracts on land to expose claws for digging. The tail is flat and paddle-shaped, functioning in both propulsion and fat storage. Males possess venomous spurs on their hind legs, capable of delivering a painful sting to predators or rivals. Internally, the platypus exhibits a mixture of reptilian and mammalian traits, such as a cloaca and egg-laying reproduction, yet it also produces milk to nourish its young. The species is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, foraging underwater for invertebrates and small aquatic animals. Solitary by nature, platypuses maintain overlapping home ranges along riverbanks and exhibit minimal social interaction outside of the breeding season.
💡 Did you know?
The platypus was so strange-looking that early European scientists thought the first specimen sent to England was a hoax, believing it to be a stitched-together fake.
🔬Research & Sources
Wikipedia Summary
The platypus, sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative or monotypic taxon of its family Ornithorhynchidae and genus Ornithorhynchus, though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
Last Modified: 6/6/2025
🎭Behavior & Social Structure
Platypuses are expert swimmers, spending up to 12 hours a day foraging underwater. They close their eyes, ears, and nostrils when submerged, relying entirely on their bill's electroreceptors and mechanoreceptors to locate prey such as insect larvae, worms, freshwater shrimp, and small fish. Hunting involves repeated dives lasting 30–60 seconds, with brief surface intervals for breathing. Platypuses are solitary and territorial, marking their burrows and foraging areas with scent glands. They construct two types of burrows: simple resting burrows and more elaborate nesting burrows for breeding. On land, they move with a distinctive, awkward gait but are agile swimmers. Social interactions are rare outside the breeding season, and individuals communicate primarily through chemical cues.
👶Reproduction & Life Cycle
Breeding occurs from June to October, varying by latitude. Males and females come together only to mate, after which the female constructs a nesting burrow up to 20 meters (66 ft) long, lined with wet vegetation. Females lay 1–3 leathery eggs and incubate them by curling around them for about 10 days. After hatching, the altricial young are blind, hairless, and completely dependent on the mother. The female secretes milk from mammary gland openings (no nipples), which pools in grooves on her abdomen for the young to lap up. The young remain in the burrow for 3–4 months before emerging to forage independently. Males provide no parental care.
🛡️Adaptations & Survival
The platypus exhibits a suite of unique adaptations: electroreception in the bill allows detection of prey in murky waters; dense, hydrophobic fur provides insulation and buoyancy; webbed feet and a streamlined body enhance swimming efficiency; and the tail stores fat reserves for periods of food scarcity. The venomous spur in males is thought to play a role in competition during the breeding season. The ability to close sensory orifices underwater prevents water ingress during foraging. Egg-laying and the presence of a cloaca are ancestral monotreme traits, representing an evolutionary link between reptiles and mammals.
📚Research Sources
🎨Cultural Significance
The platypus holds a prominent place in Australian culture and natural history, featuring in Indigenous Australian mythology as a symbol of uniqueness and adaptability. Early European naturalists were so baffled by its appearance that they suspected it to be a hoax. Today, the platypus is an iconic national symbol, appearing on the Australian 20-cent coin and serving as a mascot for environmental organizations. It is also a subject of scientific fascination due to its evolutionary distinctiveness.
🔬Recent Research & Discoveries
Recent genomic studies have revealed that the platypus genome is a mosaic of reptilian, avian, and mammalian features, providing insights into mammalian evolution. Ongoing research focuses on the structure and function of platypus venom, the ecological impacts of environmental change, and the conservation genetics of fragmented populations. Advances in radio-tracking and environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have improved population monitoring. Studies of platypus milk have identified unique antimicrobial properties, with potential biomedical applications.
🎥Wildlife Videos
Platypus Documentary - The World's Strangest Animal - History TV
Platypus Documentary - The World's Strangest Animal - History TV The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), also known as the ...
History TV
6/16/2025
The Insane Biology of: The Platypus
Imagery courtesy of Getty Images Music: dancing-on-the-snow by anbr we-are-ready by angel-salazar still-life by anbr organism ...
Real Science
6/16/2025
David Attenborough's | Tasmania | Weird and Wonderful
Attenborough narrates the story of a vast island wilderness - ancient forests, pristine rivers and spectacular coastline. Seasons ...
symmetry
6/16/2025
Platypus Parts | National Geographic
About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure.
National Geographic
6/16/2025
What Is A Platypus? 10 Facts about the Platypus!
Most of you know Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb, but what is a Platypus? Do you know it is a real animal? You can't ...
Learn about Animals
6/16/2025
Platypus: The King of Weirdos
In the finale of Season 4 of Animalogic, Danielle ventures into Victoria's Otway ranges in search of a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, ...
Animalogic
6/16/2025
🌍Habitat Information
The Platypus typically inhabits Freshwater rivers and streams environments. Platypuss have adapted to their environments with specialized features and behaviors.
Primary Habitat:
Freshwater rivers and streams
More detailed habitat information will be available soon.
🛡️Conservation Status
The Platypus is currently classified as Near Threatened. Conservation efforts are crucial for preserving this species for future generations.
Common Threats:
- 🏠Habitat loss and fragmentation
- 🌡️Climate change impacts
- 🎯Hunting and poaching
- 🏭Human-wildlife conflict
⚠️Threats & Conservation Challenges
Major threats to platypus populations include habitat destruction (especially from damming, water extraction, and land clearing), pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, predation by introduced species (such as foxes and dogs), and climate change-induced droughts and bushfires. Disease, notably the fungal infection Mucor amphibiorum, has also impacted some populations. While the species is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, recent research suggests significant population declines in some regions, prompting calls for increased conservation measures and habitat protection.
🔬Scientific Classification
Scientific Name
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Classification Hierarchy
🔍 About Taxonomic Classification
Taxonomic classification is a hierarchical system used by scientists to classify and organize living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
The system moves from broad categories (Kingdom) to increasingly specific ones, with each animal's scientific name typically consisting of its Genus and species.
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