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It swims underwater with its eyes closed and detects its prey with its very sensitive bill, which also can detect electrical impulses, similar to the snout of a shark.
It dives down to the bottom of a lake, river, or stream, and wiggles its bill in the sand. The electro receptors in its bill senses its prey. The Platypus grabsits prey and stores it in cheek pouches until it reaches the surface, and then it moves the food forward and grinds it up with its grinding pads.
What else can I help you with?
How often does a platypus have to catch its prey?
every other day
Do fox eat platypus?
Foxes do not usually eat mature platypuses, but they do prey on juveniles.
What animals have the platypus as prey?
Introduced animals such as red foxes, dogs and feral cats prey on the platypus. Natural predators of the platypus include snakes, water rats, goannas, spotted quolls, eels, hawks, owls and eagles. In the north of its range, dingoes are another predator. Lower platypus numbers in far northern Australia are possibly due to predation by crocodiles. On occasion, large freshwater eels (which may be twice the length of a platypus) have been thought to take platypuses.
How does a platypus communicate?
A platypus has many ways of communicating, but if an animal hits them they have a soft growl like a puppy. They have many ways of hurting their prey; for instance, the females and males have things on their feet.
What is the hearing frequency of a platypus?
The hearing frequency of a platypus ranges from about 1 kHz to 3 kHz. They have sensitive hearing adapted for detecting prey, especially in aquatic environments. Unlike many mammals, they are more attuned to lower frequencies, which aids in locating sounds made by their prey underwater.
Does the platypus sneak up on moving prey?
No. Platypuses do not sneak up on their prey. There is no stealth involved in how they hunt. Platypuses eat small water animals such as aquatic insect larvae, fresh water shrimp, annelid worms, yabbies and crayfish. Platypuses catch their food in the water. They may make hundreds of dives in a single day. The bill of a platypus has sensitive electroreceptors which pick up tiny nerve and electrical impulses generated by crustaceans and other animals that inhabit the bottom of the creek or river. The platypus then uses its bill to shovel away the dirt, and find the food.
How does a platypus find food under water?
The platypus's unusual broad bill (snout) is specially equipped to enable it to find food underwater. A platypus may make hundreds of dives in a creek or river in a single day. The bill of a platypus has sensitive electroreceptors which pick up tiny nerve and electrical impulses generated by crustaceans and other animals that inhabit the bottom of the creek or river, or those swimming in the murky depths. A platypus closes its eyes underwater, as it does not need to see at all. Its bill tells it everything it need to know about where its prey is located. The platypus then uses its bill to shovel away the dirt, and find the food.
What special ability helps the platypus find prey?
The platypus has a number of special abilities which help it to find its prey. The primary ability is its bill, which has sensitive electroreceptors that pick up tiny nerve and electrical impulses generated by crustaceans and other animals that inhabit the bottom of the creek or river. No other mammals have this unique ability. The platypus then uses its bill to shovel away the dirt, and find the food. It does not have teeth, but hard bony plates which it uses to grind the food. In addition, the platypus has webbed feet with a retracting webbed membrane which can expose the claws, enabling the platypus to effectively dig burrows. Its claws are used for digging burrows into riverbanks for shelter, and the webbing membrane retracts for that purpose, but spreads between its toes when it needs to swim - which it needs to do to get its food.
Is the platypus a prey?
The platypus is both predator and prey. While it is true that platypuses have few predators in the wild, because they mainly hunt underwater and live in hidden shelters, their greatest danger comes from introduced animals. Natural predators of the platypus include snakes, water rats, goannas, spotted quolls, eels, hawks, owls and eagles. In the north of its range, dingoes are another predator. Lower platypus numbers in far northern Australia are possibly due to predation by crocodiles. On occasion, large eels (which may be twice the length of a platypus) have been thought to take platypuses. The introduction of red foxes as a predator for rabbits may have had some impact on platypus numbers on the mainland. Feral cats are another platypus predator, but the platypus's principal enemies are humans.
Is a platypus a scavenger?
No. Platypuses feed only on live prey. Because their bills detect fine electrical impulses from underwater crustaceans and invertebrates, platypuses cannot locate the prey unless it is live.
Bat's prey is or bat's prey are?
It depends on how many of the prey you are referring to. Singular prey - the bat's prey is an insect Multiple prey - the bat's prey are all flying away
Why is the playpus endangered?
The platypus is considered to be endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution of waterways, and prey depletion. Climate change and drought are also contributing factors to their declining population numbers. Protection and conservation efforts are important to help ensure the survival of the platypus.
