Ever since Europeans discovered the platypus in Australia during the late 1700's, the quirky, duck-billed, semi-aquatic creature has baffled scientific researchers. It does not store any personal data.It lays eggs, but nurses, it is toothless, has a venomous spur, has webbed feet, fur that glows and has 10 sex chromosomes. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Foraging platypuses stay underwater for up to one minute.The bill contains two types of electroreceptors: one senses touch, and the other senses electric currents produced by the muscle contractions of prey.Closes its eyes and ears when diving for food but receives information through the bill that navigates and locates prey in the water.Feed mostly in the early morning and evening.Feed almost totally in the water and mainly on bottom-dwelling prey.Carnivorous diet of fish eggs, worms, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and tadpoles, plus larvae of caddisflies, mayflies, two-winged flies and shrimps.Newborn platypuses are around 1.5cm long, are weaned at 4–5 months and remain in the burrow until they reach about 80 per cent of adult weight at about 6 months.Incubation period 10–11 days during which the female holds them against her belly with her tail.1 litter in Spring of 1–2 eggs (may not reproduce every year).Females first mate aged 2 years, some wait until they are 5.Breeding season varies with location: recorded as mating in August in Queensland and October in Tasmania.The platypus (and echidna) are unique mammals because they lay eggs and feed their young through milk-producing spongy glands.Platypuses have been known to migrate across paddocks and similar land to reach new home waterways.Territorial and solitary, platypuses do not live in social groups.Males fight over females in the mating season, using their venomous spurs on their rear legs as weapons.12 years average life span in the wild.Freshwater streams, lakes or rivers, including artificial dams.Characteristic footprints are sometimes left in the soft mud on the riverbank, especially near a burrow.Well-worn slide mark from the burrow directly into the water.The burrow entrance may be beneath the water surface or more commonly from 5 cm to 1 m above the water level and often hidden by overhanging vegetation. Burrow entrances in banks are typically 10–15 cm in diameter.A characteristic ‘bow-wave’ when swimming on the water surface. A trail of bubbles shows their progress underwater.Concentric rings appear on the surface of the water when platypus dive and when they feed on the surface.These spurs are connected to a venom-producing gland in the thigh. The male has bony spurs on both hind legs for defence.Females average around 900 g and measure 43 cm long males average 1.7 kg and measure 50 cm long (average size increases the further south the animal is found).Deep brown fur on its back and top of the head, golden or silky grey underneath.Webbed front feet, partially webbed hind feet.Duck-like bill, broad flat tail and thick waterproof fur.Their range does not extend much past the Great Dividing Range in most areas but as far west as western Victoria.Wildlife Queensland research suggests that in Queensland this is not one continuous population, but at least three discontinuous populations. Found in waterways all along the eastern edge of Australia, from Tasmania to the Arran River near Cooktown.Generally travels up to 1 km along a stream but can travel up to 7 km.Their home range is normally 2.5 ha but can be up to 15 ha.
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