Can platypus venom kill a human?

Answer 1

Platypuses do not have a poisonous bite, but adult males have venomous spurs on their ankles. Apart from several species of shrews and the Cuban solenodon, platypuses are the only venomous mammals.

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.

Female platypuses do not have venom, but they are born with spurs. These spurs fall off by the time the young female is about a year old.

Answer 2

Platypuses can not kill average healthy humans.

Generally, the platypus is a very shy creature which will avoid contact with humans.

However, the male platypus also has the distinction of being the world's most poisonous mammal. This creature has a small, hollow, poisonous spur on the back of each of its hind feet. The poison cannot kill a person, but it will cause swelling and excruciating pain. The poison is enough to kill an animal the size of a small dog, and the platypus will only use it in self-defence. Females of the species lose their spurs within their first year of life, and their spurs are not poisonous.

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). It is also possible that the shock of the pain in an unhealthy, weakened adult could well result in their death. This would be someone who was already weakened severely by disease. 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.

For this reason, an elderly or weak human could die, but there have been no known deaths resulting from platypus venom.

Answer 3

Generally, the platypus is a very shy creature which will avoid contact with humans.

However, the male platypus also has the distinction of being the world's most poisonous mammal. This creature has a small, hollow, poisonous spur on the back of each of its hind feet. The poison cannot kill a person, but it will cause swelling and excruciating pain. The poison is enough to kill an animal the size of a small dog, and the platypus will only use it in self-defense. Both have them at birth but females shed them after 3 months.

Answer 4

No. The tail of a platypus holds absolutely no danger for anyone or anything.

Platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their rear ankles, and it is this that poses the greatest danger to humans or animals that threaten it.

Answer 5

There have never been any deaths reported from platypus venom.

Male platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their hind legs, through which they can deliver a poison 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.

Answer 6

Platypuses do not have poison: they have venom (there is a difference).

Although the male platypus has venomous spurs, no deaths from a platypus have ever been recorded. However, many injuries have been reported.

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. There is also no antivenene available.

Answer 7

Platypuses are deadly to animals their own size, but not to humans.

Male platypuses have a hollow 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. The spur is connected to a venom gland in the platypus's thigh.

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.

Answer 8

A platypus can kill another platypus, but this is very rare. Males will engage in territorial fighting, but they are not aggressive by nature.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

Thanks