Platypus - Some Facts

I have never seen a real platypus, but still I love it. So, what do you call a love that happens even before a first sight?
I fell in love with it when I read about its amazing features. If you don't already know all of them, I am sure when you get to know about platypus in detail, you are going to like it.

So let's see why it is such a wonderful and lovable creature. Read the facts below to fall in love with it. :)

This Mammal Lay Eggs

So how many mammals do you think posses this feature?
Trust me on this, there are just two mammals on this Earth that lay eggs and platypus is one of these two.


Sole Member

Platypus is the only member of its family as well genus Ornithorhynchus. To make things more clear, it is the only 'living' member of its genus and family as fossil records of some related species have been found.


Two Ovaries

Would you believe me if I told you the female platypus has a couple of ovaries? Trust me they do have two ovaries but only one of them is functional, i.e. the left one.


Venom

Even its venom is somewhat bizarre I would say. First of all there ain't much venomous mammals but platypus is one of the few venomous ones. In addition to that, only males have the ability to inject the venom. Now, even more interestingly it doesn't inject its venom from its bill. Can you guess from where does it transmit its venom. From the hind foot! Yes, that's true, hind foot. It has a spur on each hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans.


No Nipples

The females don't possess anything like nipples. Baby platypuses slurp up the milk that is secreted from two patches on their mother’s belly.


Appearance

The platypus is an egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal. The appearance of this mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud.


Weird Use of Tail

Just like its other features, its tail also has an interesting use. The platypus uses its tail to store fats.


Extra Bones

The Platypus has extra bones in the shoulder girdle, including an interclavicle. Platypus is the only mammal to have these bones as other mammals lack them.

Its plum-colored fur is waterproof. The texture of its fur is also like that of a mole.

The snout of the Platypus is in fact a sensory organ with the mouth on the underside. Now this is an other interesting feature.

The Platypus is sometimes jokingly referred to as proof that God has a sense of humour.

It is featured on 20 cent coin of Australia.

Read more interesting facts on platypus here.