platypuses
The Duck - Billed Platypus (or more commonly referred to as simply the platypus), is a peculiar animal native to Australia. The reason that it is such a strange animal, is that is has a bill like a duck, webbed feet like a frog, fur and warm blood like a mammal, and yet it lays eggs and has venom. This is because the platypus belongs to a classification of animals known as monotremes. A monotreme is an animal that is warm blooded and lays eggs. There are only 5 species of animals that are monotremes that we know of, one of them being the Platypus, and the other is 4 species of Echidnas. They are all native to Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The platypus can be found in bodies of freshwater rivers and lakes, where they will spend there entire lives and breed offspring. The platypus has an average life span of up to 17 years, an average weight of 2.4 kg (for males) and an average length of 50cm for males, and 43 cm for females. The platypus is part of a collection of animals known as diving animals. These animals breathe air, and can only stay submerged for a limited time, such as the turtle, platypus, crocodile, etc. The male Platypuses have venomous spurs that inflicts a lot of pain if stung by one. The spur is located just above the heel of each hind leg, and is presumed that males use them when competing for females, territory or defense. The platypus like other animals native to Australia, can actually be found on a coin. The 20-cent coin for Australia has a platypus on it, just like how the 50-cent coin has an emu and a kangaroo. The platypus doesn't have any distant relatives, the closest being the echidna.
The platypus can be found in bodies of freshwater rivers and lakes, where they will spend there entire lives and breed offspring. The platypus has an average life span of up to 17 years, an average weight of 2.4 kg (for males) and an average length of 50cm for males, and 43 cm for females. The platypus is part of a collection of animals known as diving animals. These animals breathe air, and can only stay submerged for a limited time, such as the turtle, platypus, crocodile, etc. The male Platypuses have venomous spurs that inflicts a lot of pain if stung by one. The spur is located just above the heel of each hind leg, and is presumed that males use them when competing for females, territory or defense. The platypus like other animals native to Australia, can actually be found on a coin. The 20-cent coin for Australia has a platypus on it, just like how the 50-cent coin has an emu and a kangaroo. The platypus doesn't have any distant relatives, the closest being the echidna.
Here is an excellent documentary if you want to learn more about the platypus (and even a little bit about the echidna), It covers everything i wrote and more (with the correct citation in the bibliography).