What type of an animal is a platypus?

Answer 1

The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania. Together with the short-beaked and long-beaked echidna, it is one of the three species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like placental mammals and marsupials, the young are suckled by the mother. It is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.

Platypuses live in burrows they dig in riverbanks, and hunt for their food in water. Their bills are equipped with very sensitive electro-receptors, with which they can sense the movements of tiny crustaceans and larvae on the bottom of rivers and creeks.

Whilst some may say it has a unique appearance similar to that of a beaver with a duck's head, it really does not look like that at all. It is covered in fur, and its head is flat and streamlined for swimming under the water's surface. Its bill is different in shape to that of a duck, so even the term "duck-billed platypus" is a misnomer. It has webbed feet, claws and a flat tail, and lives in burrows in riverbanks.

The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying mammal with a bill baffled naturalists when it was first discovered, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot which delivers a poison capable of killing a small dog or causing severe pain to humans - pain which can last for months. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of Biology.

Answer 2

A platypus is a monotreme, which is an egg laying mammal. It is semi-aquatic, living in burrows in creek banks, and hunting for food in the water.

It is one of just two egg-laying mammals in the world; the other is the echidna.

Answer 3

Platypuses are only small creatures. A male platypus is 50-60 cm in length, whilst the female is smaller, averaging 40-50 cm in length. They are very lightly built creatures, with females weighing as little as 900 grams, and males around 2kg.

Whilst some may say the platypus has a unique appearance similar to that of part beaver and part duck, it really does not look like that at all. It is covered in fur, and its head is flat and streamlined for swimming under the water's surface.

The colour of a platypus's fur is dark brown over most of its body, with a grey undercoat. Its belly is gold-coloured or silky grey.

Its bill is different in shape to that of a duck, so even the term "duck-billed platypus" is a misnomer. It has webbed feet, claws and a flat tail, and lives in burrows in riverbanks. Its feet are not permanently webbed, as the membrane that stretches to help it swim swiftly retracts for the purpose of digging.

The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed mammal baffled naturalists when it was first discovered, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot which delivers a poison capable of killing a small dog or causing severe pain to humans.

Answer 4

The platypus is a mammal, as it is a warm-blooded vertebrate with a covering of fur, and it nurtures its young on mothers' milk. It is classed as a monotreme because it is an egg-laying mammal. It is also semi-aquatic, as it spends its waking hours in the water, diving and hunting for food.

Answer 5

The platypus is simply called 'Platypus'. Its scientific name is Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Answer 6

monotreme mammal