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Platypuses are one of two types of mammals which lay eggs. Unlike the echidna, the other egg-laying mammal (or monotreme), the platypus does not develop a temporary pouch to incubate the eggs.

The mother platypus prepares a chamber at the end of a burrow especially for the purpose of protecting the young. After she lays one to three eggs, which have already developed within her body for 28 days, she curls her body around the eggs to incubate them for another ten days.

After hatching, the mother platypus feeds her young on milk secreted from glands, rather than from teats. The young are blind, hairless and completely vulnerable. They are suckled by the mother for 3-4 months, during which time she only leaves them to forage for food. As she leaves the burrow, the mpther platypus makes several thin plugs made of soil along the length of burrow; this helps to protect the young from predators which would enter the burrow during the mother's absence. When she returns, she pushes past these plugs, thereby forcing water from her fur and helping to keep the chamber dry.

The male platypus does not take any part in raising the young platypuses.

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13y ago
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11y ago

Initially, the female platypus does not leave her eggs to go to look for food.

The mother platypus prepares a chamber at the end of a burrow especially for the purpose of protecting the young. After she lays one to three eggs, which have already developed within her body for about 28 days, she curls her body around the eggs to incubate them for another ten days. She lives off the fat stored in her tail while she incubates the eggs for eight to ten days.

After hatching, the mother platypus feeds her young on milk, suckling them for 3-4 months, during which time she only leaves them to forage for food. As she leaves the burrow, the mother platypus makes several thin plugs made of soil and lined with leaves and grass along the length of burrow; this helps to protect the young from predators which would enter the burrow during the mother's absence. When she returns, she pushes past these plugs, thereby forcing water from her fur and helping to keep the chamber dry.

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14y ago

Yes: the mother platypus curls her body tightly around the eggs to incubate them.

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Related questions

Do platypuses have babies or eggs?

Despite being mammals, platypuses lay eggs. They are monotremes, that is, egg-laying mammals.


How often do platypuses reproduce?

Platypuses lay one to three eggs once a year.


Do platypuses lay hard eggs or soft eggs?

Yes; platypuses lay soft, leathery eggs rather than hard-shelled eggs.


Are platypuses hatched from eggs or born alive?

Platypuses are hatched from eggs. They are one of just two species of egg-laying mammals.


Do Platypuses Incubate?

Yes. Platypuses are monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. Female platypuses incubate their eggs. They do this by curling tightly around the eggs for around ten says, until they hatch.


Why are platypuses like reptiles?

The only way in which platypuses are like reptiles is that they lay eggs.


What are the advantages and disadvantages of platypuses laying eggs?

a disadvantage is that there will be more platypuses and the advantage is that they will not be extinct.


Do mamles lay eggs?

no they do not exept for platypuses.


Do just female platypuses lay eggs?

Yes. Only female platypuses are able to lay eggs. This is the case with all egg-laying vertebrates.


How many platypuses can be born in one pregnancy?

Platypuses do not have pregnancy. Although they are mammals, they are monotremes, which is the small group of mammals which lay eggs. Platypuses lay between one and three eggs at a time, once a year.


Why do male platypuses have babies?

Male platypuses do not have babies.Only the female can have young, and she does so by laying eggs. Platypuses are monotremes, or egg-laying mammals.


Platypuses are one of the 2 mammals that do what?

Platypuses are one of the 2 mammals that lay eggs. The other is the echidna.