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Platypus do not have a poisonous bite. Male platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their hind legs, through which they can deliver a poison strong enough to kill a small dog, and to cause almost paralysing agony to an adult human. The spur is actually hollow, and it is connected to a gland in the platypus's thigh which produces the venom. When the platypus injects an enemy, the venom is released.
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Why do Platypuses shoot venom?
Platypuses do not shoot venom. They inject venom via a venomous spur on their hind ankles.
Where do platypuses have their poison glands?
The platypus's venom gland is in its upper thigh. In the male platypus, this gland is attached to a hollow spur behind its rear ankle through which it can deliver the venom. Female platypuses do not have venom glands.
What are invisible characteristics of the platypus?
Male platypuses can produce venom.
Do platypus have venom in their wrists?
No. Male platypuses have venomous spur on their ankles, which are attached to venom glands in their thigh.
Are male platypuses venomous?
Yes. Male platypuses have a hollow spur behind their rear ankle which is attached to a venom gland in the platypus's thigh. The female is not venomous.
Can platypuses kill animals?
Platypuses are not hunters of vertebrates: they eat only invertebrates. However, the venom of a male platypus can kill animals up to the size of a small dog.
What triggers the platypuses to sting you?
Platypuses do not "sting". Male platypuses have ankle spurs on their hind legs which are attached to venom glands in either thigh. Through these spurs they can dispense venom composed largely of defensin-like proteins (DLPs), unique to the Platypus. This venom is powerful enough to kill smaller animals, and to cause agonising pain to humans. A male platypus will only spur a person if they are interfering with the animal, trying (foolishly) to capture it.
What do male platypuses have on their ankle?
Both male and female platypuses are born with spur buds on their ankles. The female's spur buds drop off before they are a year old. The male's spurs produce venom. The venom is used for defense and increases during the mating season.
Do male platypuses have poisonous talons?
Not exactly. Male platypuses have a hollow spur behind their rear ankle which is attached to a venom gland in the platypus's thigh. This spur is not a talon or claw.
Which mammal injects venom through its teeth?
Solenodons, short-tailed shrews, the Eurasian Water Shrew, and the European Mole inject venom into prey by biting it; the venom is transferred through teeth. Male platypuses inject venom through spurs on their back legs; female platypuses and both sexes of echidnas also have these spurs, but they cannot inject venom.
Do male or female platypuses sting?
Male Platypuses have ankle spurs on their hind legs through which they can dispense venom composed largely of defensin-like proteins (DLPs), unique to the Platypus. This venom is powerful enough to kill smaller animals, and to cause agonising pain to humans.
What platypuses are poisonous?
There is only one species of platypuses. It is not "poisonous", but adult males have venomous spurs on their ankles. Apart from several species of shrews and the Cuban solenodon, platypuses are the only venomous mammals.Female platypuses do not have venom, but they are born with spurs. These spurs fall off by the time the young female is about a year old.
