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Male platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their hind legs, through which they can deliver a venom strong enough to kill a small dog, and to cause almost paralysing agony to an adult human. It is possible that a very small child could be killed (though a tiny child would be unlikely to engage in behaviour threatening to a platypus), and it is also possible that the shock of the pain in an unhealthy, weakened adult could well result in their death. Also, platypus venom contains a protein which lowers blood pressure, also inducing shock.
People who have been "spurred" by a platypus report that the pain is strong enough to cause vomiting that may last for days, weeks or sometimes even months. The pain cannot be relieved by morphine and other standard pain-killing drugs. It seems the only way it can be relieved is through anaesthesia of the main nerve from the spur site.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPlatypus poison is extremly painful. It opens your pain receptors. It paralyzes smaller mammals. Their poison is only produced by males and only in the mating season for male to male mating competition. Don't pick up male platypuses, especial not during mating season.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoMale platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their hind legs, through which they can deliver a venom strong enough to kill a small dog, and to cause almost paralysing agony to an adult human.
There have been no reported deaths from the effects of platypus venom. It is possible that a very small child could be killed (though a tiny child would be unlikely to engage in behaviour threatening to a platypus), and it is also possible that the shock of the pain in an unhealthy, weakened adult could well result in their death. Also, platypus venom contains a protein which lowers blood pressure, also inducing shock.
People who have been "spurred" by a platypus report that the pain is strong enough to cause vomiting that may last for days, weeks or sometimes even months. The pain cannot be relieved by morphine and other standard pain-killing drugs. It seems the only way it can be relieved is through anaesthesia of the main nerve from the spur site.
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Does the platypus have fangs with venom?
No. The platypus does not have teeth at all. Male platypuses have a hollow spur behind their rear ankle through which they can deliver a venom powerful enough to kill a dog or cause agonising pain to humans.
Will a snake die from a platypus's venom?
Platypus venom would certainly be enough to kill a snake - but the snake could well inject its own venom in the platypus at the same time.
How do people get poisoned by the platypus's venom?
The only way to be injected with platypus venom is to aggravate a male platypus sufficiently so that it lashes out with its ankle spur.
What will happen to platypus in the future?
their venom, or poison will be helpful for scientists in the future. it will help scientists to design new pain killers for humans
What is the difference between a platypus's and an echidna's hind spur?
The platypus's spur is sharp and attached to a venom gland in the platypus's thigh. The echidna's spur is blunt, and is not attached to a functional venom gland.
Can you take out the poison of a male platypus?
The only way the venom of a male platypus could be removed would be for the entire venom gland to be removed.
What special physical feature does the male platypus have so it can protect itself from predators?
The male Platypus has ankle spurs which produce a cocktail of venom, composed largely of defensin-like proteins (DLPs), which is unique to the Platypus. Although powerful enough to kill smaller animals, the venom is not lethal to humans, but is so excruciating that the victim may be incapacitated.
Which part of a male platypus is venomous?
The male platypus has a hollow spur on each of its hind ankles, which is attached to a venom gland within its thigh. The platypus delivers the venom through the ankle spur.
Can you cut off poison gland on a platypus?
No. The platypus's venom gland is located within the male platypus's thigh.
Where do platypuses have their poison glands?
The platypus's venom gland is in its upper thigh. In the male platypus, this gland is attached to a hollow spur behind its rear ankle through which it can deliver the venom. Female platypuses do not have venom glands.
Can a person take venom out of a platypus?
No. A platypus's spur cannot be "milked" in the way a snake can be milked.
Where is the platypus's poisonous organ located?
The platypus is not poisonous: it is venomous. Its venom gland is located in its thigh and the venom is delivered via a hollow spur in each of its hind legs.
