Where does the duck billed platypus live in the world?
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
When does a platypus secrete its venom?
Platypus venom. Males have a pair of spurs on their hind limbs that secrete venom that is active only in breeding season, supporting the theory that the use of venom is for competition for mates, not for protection. While the spur remains available for defense, outside of breeding season the platypus’s venom gland lacks secretion.
Which is the only living member of the family platypus?
The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
How is the spur of a platypus attached?
The spur is attached to a small bone that allows articulation; the spur can move at a right angle to the limb allowing a greater range of attack than a fixed spur would allow. The spur normally lies flat against the limb but is raised when required.
What kind of animal is a platypus?
The platypus is a duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying aquatic creature native to Australia. If its appearance alone somehow fails to impress, the male of the species is also one of the world’s few venomous mammals! Equipped with sharp stingers on the heels…
Is the platypus native to Western Australia?
There is no evidence that the animal occurred naturally in Western Australia, despite several unsuccessful attempts to introduce it there. Within its current distribution, the occurrence of the Platypus is reasonably continuous in some, but discontinuous in other catchments.
Which is larger a male or female platypus?
Males are larger than females and can be over 60 cm long (tip of the bill to tip of the tail). Typically, males are 400-630 mm long, and females are 370-550 mm long. The weight is 800-3000 g for males and 600-1700 g for females. The Platypus is a unique Australian species.