Tuesday’s Creature: Platypus

Here we are at the start of another year, and to carry on from before the Christmas posts starting with a creature post and this weeks creature is the Platypus. Yes I did a post about it back in 2019 but here is another one.

When first discovered by Europeans this odd looking mammal was described as a cross between a duck and a beaver. Today we know it is as unique to Australia and one of two egg-laying mammals, the other being the echidna.

It has a rubbery bill, streamlined body and flat club-like tail that stores fat. The claws on its front feet are used for digging burrows in riverbanks, while its webbed legs and feet make it quite a swimmer.

The platypus is one of the worlds few venomous mammals the males have a sharp spur on their ankles which is connected to a venom gland in the upper leg. The venom won’t kill you but the pain is suppose to be excruciating.