What are common characteristics of a platypus?

Answer 1

The platypus and the echidna both belong to the group of animals known as monotremes. The platypus and two species of echidna are the only creatures in this classification, which is characterised by the feature of being egg-laying mammals, yet they are not birds or reptiles. This means that both creatures hatch their young from eggs (which, incidentally, the echidna incubates in a pouch, but the platypus does not), yet the mother of each species feeds her babies with milk from milk glands - not from teats like placental mammals and marsupials do.

One of the characteristics of a platypus is that it has an unusual duck-like bill, and as such, does not have teeth - an unusual characteristic for a mammal. Instead it uses grinding plates to crush its food. The echidna, also known as the spiny ant-eater, also does not have teeth. Instead it has a long, sticky tongue which it uses to catch and eat termites and ants.

Echidna and platypus young stay in a burrow after they are hatched. However, the echidna develops a rudimentary pouch during breeding season, into which it lays and incubates its young. The platypus does not have a pouch.

Both creatures have sharp claws for burrowing. The echidna can quickly burrow into the ground to escape predators, while the platypus uses its claws to dig out a burrow in the riverbank.

Surprisingly, both the platypus and echidna like the water. Not so surprisingly for the platypus, as it must hunt in the water for its food. Regarding the echidna - though its body shape would seem to be awkward for swimming, the echidna actually enjoys water when it can find it, and it is believed the echidna regulates its temperature through swimming.

In broad classification terms these two animals are considered to be cousins, but their genetic and physical characteristics differ significantly more than the genetic and physical characteristics of human cousins.

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Answer 2

A platypus is a monotreme, i.e. an egg-laying mammal. Therefore, it shares certain chracteristics with other mammals, such as being a warmblooded vertebrate which breathes using lungs and a full respiratory system.

As a semi-aquatic mammal, the platypus has dense, waterproof fur and a thick, furry tail, which is nothing like a beaver's tail, despite commonly being compared with it.

It has short legs with webbed feet, and is well-equipped to hunt in the water, yet spends most of its time on land. Each foot has five toes with sharp claws, as it digs a burrow in the riverbank for shelter. When swimming, a membranous "web" extends between the toes. The male platypus has a venomous spur on its hind leg, which cannot kill a human but can cause extreme pain.

The platypus hunts for food underwater, using its duck-like bill, which is equipped with extremely sensitive electro-receptors to find food such as insect larvae, snails, worms, small fish, and crustaceans. It can remain underwater for between one and five minutes.

Answer 3

Apart from the name, the only similarities between platypuses and platypus frogs is the fact that they are both vertebrates and both are native to Australia. Platypuses are mammals, and platypus frogs are amphibians, so they are very different creatures.

Answer 4

The two creatures are quite different and have very different habitat needs, so there are few similarities, except where the two share the same bushland.

The Platypus has very specialised needs. It must be able to dig burrows in riverbanks and creekbanks where it has ready access to freshwater, its hunting and feeding grounds.

The echidna can live anywhere where there are termites and ants. The echidna can be found in bushland, deserts and high mountains - literally anywhere in Australia. Therefore, the only similarities are in areas of bushland.

Answer 5

The echidna and the platypus are classified in the same group because they are the only two monotremes in the world. Monotremes are egg-laying mammals. They are mammals because they suckle their young on mothers' milk and share most other characteristics with mammals, except for the fact that they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Answer 6

There are not many similarities between wombats and platypuses, as they have very different feeding and reproductive habits. Some similarities between platypus and wombats are:

• They are both mammals (however, they do not both give live birth, as the platypus is an egg-laying mammal)
• They are both native to Australia, occurring in the wild only in that country
• They are both nocturnal or, more specifically, mainly crepuscular, feeding most commonly at dawn and dusk
• Both have sharp claws for burrowing

Answer 7

Echidnas and platypuses are distinctive because they are egg-laying mammals (monotremes). Unlike other mammals, they do not give live birth.

Answer 8

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