{"id":1035,"date":"2015-05-22T08:53:30","date_gmt":"2015-05-22T07:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.activewild.com\/?p=1035"},"modified":"2018-08-31T22:33:56","modified_gmt":"2018-08-31T21:33:56","slug":"platypus-facts-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.activewild.com\/platypus-facts-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Platypus Facts For Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have heard of the platypus, but did you know that this strange-looking Australian animal\u00a0is venomous<\/strong>? This incredible mammal is truly unique and has several other unusual characteristics;\u00a0we’ll find out about these\u00a0further down the page. This article contains platypus information and pictures, plus a list of platypus facts for kids.<\/p>\n

Oh, there’s also an awesome video for you to watch!<\/p>\n

This page is part of our Australian Animals<\/a> series.<\/p>\n

\"Online<\/a>
Click to see more animals in the Active Wild Online Zoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you enjoy finding out about the Platypus, feel free to share this article on social media using the buttons above!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Platypus Information: Introduction<\/h2>\n

The platypus (scientific name Ornithorhynchus anatinus<\/em>) is a highly unusual animal. Not only is it venomous<\/strong>, but it is also a member of a group of\u00a0curious mammals called the monotremes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Rather than giving birth to live young like other mammals, monotremes lay eggs<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

There are only five species of monotreme: the platypus, and four species of Echidna<\/strong>. (You can read about Echidnas here: Echidna Facts<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The platypus is\u00a0found along the\u00a0eastern\u00a0side of mainland Australia and in\u00a0Tasmania. It lives near freshwater streams and rivers and is highly adapted for its semi-aquatic lifestyle.<\/p>\n

As we’ll see further down the page, it has a useful trick up its sleeve for locating food.<\/p>\n

Description<\/h2>\n

At first glance the Platypus looks like a strange mixture of several different animals:\u00a0it has the webbed feet and brown coat\u00a0of an otter, the flattened tail\u00a0of a beaver, and the large bill of a duck.<\/p>\n

The large bill gives rise to the animal’s other common name: the duck-billed platypus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The platypus’s bizarre appearance caused much confusion among\u00a0early naturalists. In 1799, Dr George Shaw, a keeper at the British Museum, was presented with a dried platypus skin. The animal’s\u00a0appearance\u00a0was so unusual that\u00a0Dr Shaw was suspicious that\u00a0the museum had fallen\u00a0victim\u00a0to an elaborate hoax.<\/p>\n

Believing that someone had joined a duck’s bill to another animal’s body, he used scissors to try to separate the parts.\u00a0The marks his scissors left on the skin can still be seen today!<\/p>\n

\"You
You can see why they’re sometimes called ‘duck-billed platypuses’!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Platypus’s\u00a0body and tail are covered with dense, waterproof\u00a0fur. This\u00a0traps a layer of warm, insulating air close to the animal’s body.<\/p>\n

The platypus’s legs\u00a0are attached to the sides of its body, rather than underneath. This gives the animal\u00a0a reptile-like gait.<\/p>\n

When walking on land, the platypus walks\u00a0on the knuckles of its front feet to protect the webbing between its toes. There is less webbing on the hind feet.<\/p>\n

How Big Is A Platypus?<\/h2>\n

The platypus’s weight varies considerably from individual to individual, ranging\u00a0between 0.7 and 2.4\u00a0kg\u00a0(1.5\u00a0and 5.5\u00a0lb).<\/p>\n

Males are larger than females, averaging 50\u00a0cm (20 in) in total length.\u00a0The average body length of females\u00a0is 43\u00a0cm\u00a0(17 in).<\/p>\n

Venom: A Little Known Platypus Fact!<\/h2>\n

The platypus is one of the very few mammals that are venomous.<\/p>\n

The male platypus has spurs on each ankle that can deliver venom powerful enough to kill small animals such as dogs. While not lethal to humans, the venom can cause excruciating pain.<\/p>\n

Female platypuses are also born with spurs, but they drop off within the first year of life and are not venomous.<\/p>\n

The male’s venom production rises during the breeding season, suggesting that it is primarily used as a weapon by rival males to establish dominance.<\/p>\n

What Does A Platypus Eat?<\/h2>\n

The platypus\u00a0is a\u00a0carnivore,\u00a0and eats worms, insect larvae, freshwater shrimps and crayfish, all of\u00a0which are found in its\u00a0freshwater\u00a0habitat.<\/p>\n

The platypus hunts underwater, using its cheek-pouches to carry prey\u00a0to the surface before eating.<\/p>\n

The platypus needs to consume around\u00a020% of its body weight in food\u00a0each day. This means that\u00a0it spends an average of 12 hours per day looking for food.<\/p>\n

Hunting With Electroreception<\/h2>\n

Perhaps you thought that, what with the egg-laying and venom production, the platypus was already quite strange enough? Well, it doesn’t end there …<\/p>\n

When underwater, the platypus closes the grooves\u00a0containing its eyes and ears. This means that it is blind and deaf while hunting. So how does it find its food?<\/p>\n

Incredibly, the platypus uses electrolocation<\/strong> to locate the small creatures on which it feeds. Its bill contains sensors that can detect the tiny electrical fields generated by the muscular contractions of its prey.<\/p>\n

When the platypus\u00a0is hunting,\u00a0it moves its\u00a0head from side to side, allowing it to detect where its\u00a0prey is\u00a0hiding.<\/p>\n

In the video below, you can see how the platypus uses electroreception to hunt.<\/p>\n