Life cycle of the platypus

D uckbill Platypus is a very unique animal that lays eggs and is classified as a mammal. Due to this uniqueness, it is a very interesting animal to learn. We have listed down complete Platypus Facts for Kids that will help you in learning all about Platypus.

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Life cycle of the platypus

The Platypus is a unique Australian species. Along with echidnas, Platypuses are grouped in a separate order of mammals known as monotremes, which are distinguished from all other mammals because they lay eggs. When first discovered, the unusual look of a Platypus caused considerable confusion and doubt amongst European naturalists and scientists, many of whom believed that the animal was a fake. Platypus is well adapted for semi-aquatic lifestyle. Its streamline body and a broad, flat tail are covered with dense waterproof fur, which provides excellent thermal insulation. The Platypus propels itself through the water by using its front, short, webbed limbs, and the partially-webbed hind feet act as rudders. Behind its distinctive bill are the grooves that house the ear openings and the eyes which close when the animal dives. The Platypus uses its tail for storage of fat reserves and the strong claws on its feet for burrowing and moving on land. In addition, males possess a horny spur on their ankles, which is connected to a venom gland in the upper leg, making the Platypus one of the few venomous mammals. The skeleton of the Platypus is heavy and has several similarities to that of fossil and modern reptiles. These include pectoral girdles made of five bones, splayed legs and rudimentary ribs on the neck vertebrae. Platypuses occur in freshwater systems from tropical rainforest lowlands and plateaus of far northern Queensland to cold, high altitudes of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. They feed in both slow-moving and rapid riffle parts of streams, but show preference to coarser bottom substrates, particularly cobbles and gravel.

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The platypus is as fascinating on the inside as it is on the outside! At a glance, it looks like a hodgepodge of animal pieces stitched together: a paddle-shaped tail from an otter, a sleek body covered in dense, chestnut-colored fur like a mole, a wide, flat duck-like bill attached in front of its little round eyes, and big webbed feet like a pelican. All these characteristics come in handy for its freshwater lifestyle—that bizarre looking bill is laden with thousands of receptors that help a platypusl navigate the murky depths and detect tiny movements of potential food like shellfish or insects. While their range is just one small area of the world, they weather many climate extremes and fresh water sources from toasty plateaus and rainforests, to the chilly mountainous regions of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. Their dense fur makes fine insulation, both in the water and out. Platypus fur is waterproof and traps an insulating layer of air to keep its body temperature stable, even in cold water.

The platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus , [3] sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus , [4] 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. Together with the four species of echidna , it is one of the five extant species of monotremes , mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like other monotremes, the platypus senses prey in cloudy water through electrolocation. It is one of the few species of venomous mammals , as the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers an extremely painful venom.

Life cycle of the platypus

The Platypus is a unique Australian species. Along with echidnas, Platypuses are grouped in a separate order of mammals known as monotremes, which are distinguished from all other mammals because they lay eggs. When first discovered, the unusual look of a Platypus caused considerable confusion and doubt amongst European naturalists and scientists, many of whom believed that the animal was a fake. Platypus is well adapted for semi-aquatic lifestyle.

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Species of mammal. Archived from the original on 7 March Tinodon Trishulotherium Yermakia. A Platypus, Probably by Sneed B. Platypus and the Birthday Party by Chris Riddell. High school social studies. The platypus is no longer found in the main Murray—Darling Basin , possibly due to declining water quality from land clearing and irrigation. Males are larger than females. Say what? If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this: Sydenham, Shirley. Retrieved 5 March

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Crandall Retrieved 14 September San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is proud to support a cutting-edge conservation effort in southeastern Australia that benefits endemic wildlife, including the platypus. One of the foundational skills children learn in school is essay writing. The Puzzling Platypus. Archived from the original on 19 October It is culturally significant to several Aboriginal peoples , who also used to hunt it for food. While most of the animals live in shallow burrows most of the year, the females dig elaborate burrows after mating in order to provide their young with shelter. Tools Tools. Platypuses are long-lived animals both in captivity and in the wild, living up to approximately 20 years. In , researchers at the Australian National University discovered the platypus has ten sex chromosomes , compared with two XY in most other mammals. The four echidna species are the only other living egg-laying mammals, which are called monotremes. Archived from the original on 2 October