What does a platypus foot look like?

Answer 1

Contrary to popular belief, a platypus's tail is not like a beaver's tail. It is squat and furry, and when the platypus is healthiest, the tail is fatter.

It does not look like a flipper; nor is it used as one.

Answer 2

There is no such creature as a "platypus duck".

The platypus is only a small creature. 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, part otter 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.

Answer 3

The platypus has sharp claws on its feet for digging. It has webbed feet with a retracting webbed membrane which can expose the claws, enabling the platypus to effectively dig burrows. The purpose of the webbing is to help it when swimming.

At the related link below, you can see a quite clear picture of the platypus's foot as it swims.

Answer 4

A platypus's bill is flatter and wider than a duck's bill.