Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The Platypus

The platypus is found in eastern Australia.

They live aside freshwater rivers or lakes,
and create burrows for shelter and
protection. They are active mainly at
nighttime hours, and use their webbed feet
for swimming. When swimming the
platypus has its eyes shut. They swim
underwater for 2 minutes, before returning
to the surface for oxygen. They can
however stay underwater for up to 10
minutes, and due to their natural
buoyancy, they need to be underneath
another object to do this.
The Platypus has a wooly furred coat and
range from 30cm to 45cms in length and
the tail about 10 to 15 cms. The wooly
furred coat actually has three different
layers. The first layer keeps the animal
warm, by trapping air, the second layer
which provides an insulating coat for the
animal, and lastly the third layer of long
flat hairs to detect objects close by. These
creatures weight on average between 1 to
2.4 kilograms. They have an average
lifespan of 12 years.
This lifespan may be shortly diminished, as
the platypuses biggest threats are snakes,
goannas, rats and foxes. Another big threat
to the platypus is man, via waterway
pollution or land clearing.

Platypuses feed on insect lar

worms or other freshwater in
They do so mainly at night, b
of their bill. They turn up mu
bottom of the lake or river, a
the help of their electrorecep
located on the bill, find many
and freshwater insects. They
their findings in special pouc
behind their bill, and are con
upon returning to the surface
Amazing Fact: Platypuses can
consume their own body wei
food in a 24 hour period!
Male platypus are larger than
female. They reproduct by m
which occurs once a year, be
June - October. The female la
between 2 - 4 eggs and incub
these for a two week period.
young platypus is born, they
from milk from the mother. T
mother secretes this milk fro
glands under the skin, the yo
platypus feed from this milk
ends up on the mothers fur.
If you thought this was a cute
cuddly Australian animal, we
are only half correct. The ma
have a hollow spur about 15
milimetres in length on the in
both hind legs. This in turn is
connected to a venom gland
platypus uses this spur to de
itself against predators.
Amazing Fact: The male platy
venom strong enough to can
small dog, or cause excrucia
among humans.
Since only the male platypus
venomous spur, and the glan
during mating season, many
it is normally used in aggress
encounters between other m
platypus.
A baby platypus is not called
puggle, which seems to be a
misconception. There is no o
name for a baby platypus, bu

common suggested name is

"platypup".

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Platypuses feed on insect larvae

or other freshwater insects. The
mainly at night, by the use of th
They turn up mud on the bottom
lake or river, and with the help
electroreceptors located on the
many insects and freshwater in
They store their findings in spec
pouches behind their bill, and a
consumed upon returning to the

Amazing Fact: Platypuses can

their own body weight in food in
hour period!
The Platypus

The platypus is found in eastern Australia. They

live aside freshwater rivers or lakes, and create
burrows for shelter and protection. They are
active mainly at nighttime hours, and use their
webbed feet for swimming. When swimming
the platypus has its eyes shut. They swim
underwater for 2 minutes, before returning to
the surface for oxygen. They can however stay
underwater for up to 10 minutes, and due to
their natural buoyancy, they need to be
underneath another object to do this.
The Platypus has a wooly furred coat and range
from 30cm to 45cms in length and the tail
about 10 to 15 cms. The wooly furred coat
actually has three different layers. The first
layer keeps the animal warm, by trapping air,
the second layer which provides an insulating
coat for the animal, and lastly the third layer of
long flat hairs to detect objects close by. These
creatures weight on average between 1 to 2.4
kilograms. They have an average lifespan of 12
years.
This lifespan may be shortly diminished, as the
platypuses biggest threats are snakes,
goannas, rats and foxes. Another big threat to
the platypus is man, via waterway pollution or
land clearing.

Male platypus are larger than th

They reproduct by mating which
once a year, between June - Oc
female lays between 2 - 4 eggs
incubates these for a two week
When a young platypus is born,
from milk from the mother. The
secretes this milk from large gla
the skin, the young platypus fee
this milk which ends up on the
fur.

If you thought this was a cute a

Australian animal, well, you are
correct. The male platypi have a
spur about 15 milimetres in len
inside of both hind legs. This in
connected to a venom gland, an
platypus uses this spur to defen
against predators.

Amazing Fact: The male platy

venom strong enough to can kil
dog, or cause excruciating pain
humans.

Since only the male platypus ha

venomous spur, and the gland p
during mating season, many su
normally used in aggressive enc
between other male platypus.

A baby platypus is not called a

which seems to be a common
misconception. There is no offic
for a baby platypus, but a comm

suggested name is "platypup".