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Platypuses
One of Australia's most unique and unusual native animals, the platypus is an egg-laying mammal which lives on land and hunts for food in the freshwater creeks and rivers of eastern Australia. Once incorrectly thought to be the most primitive mammal, it is now regarded as a superb example of adaptation. Questions and answers about platypuses can be found here.
996 Questions
The word platypus is from the Greek platypous, meaning "flat-footed": from platys "broad, flat" + pous "foot."
The scientific name (sometimes also called the Latin name) of the platypus is ornithorhynchus anatinus.
How many worms can a platypus hold in its mouth?
Platypuses do not hold much food in their cheek pouches. The cheek pouches are only used to store enough food for the platypus to grind (it does not chew as it has no teeth) as it floats on the surface between dives.
Does a platypus live in Kentucky?
No. There are no platypuses in Kentucky, or in any other part of North America. Platypuses are not found outside of Australia.
Who sings the way of the platypus?
Rick Cowling sings "The Way of the Platypus" featured in the episode "Doof Dynasty" from Season 3 of Phineas & Ferb.
Does a baby platypus know how how to swim when it is born?
No. When a baby platypus hatches, it is the size of a bean, blind and completely helpless.
A life dedicated to science has propelled Elmer Green, Ph.D. into careers as a physicist and a biological psychologist. Both led to his most noted work, the influence on the birth of the biofeedback movement.
What is Perry The Platypus's Gender?
Male, they show Perry in love with a female platypus in an episode
No. A platypus is not a placental mammal of any type, but a monotreme, which is an egg-laying mammal.
Generally, eels are not considered to be regular predators of platypuses.
However, freshwater eels can grow to a size of 110 cm or more. Platypuses average 40-60cm. An eel could conceivably eat something that was less than half its size.
Are there still platypuses alive?
Platypuses are alive and well. They are found living in burrows they dig above freshwater creeks and rivers through eastern Australia. They are not even endangered. Despite their numbers dropping dramatically during the twentieth century due to the fur trade, the platypus population has recovered since protection measures were put in place. There are now believed to be around the same number of platypuses
What is ornithorhynchus anatinus?
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus is just the scientific name for the Platypus.
When do adult platypuses lay their eggs?
Platypuses lay their eggs just once a year, between September (early Spring) and March (early Autumn).
After mating, the platypus eggs gestate for around a month. After being laid, they are then incubated for 6-10 days.
What is the habitat of monotremes?
Monotreme habitats vary.
The short-beaked echidna is found right across Australia, from deserts to bushland to rainforests to sub-alpine regions - basically, wherever there are termites and ants, its primary food source.
The long-beaked echidna is found in the tropical forests on mountainous slopes of New Guinea.
The platypus is found alongside freshwater creeks and rivers in eastern Australia, from sub-tropical rainforests and bushland in the north to cool-temperate bushland in the south.
What special features does the male platypus have to protect itself from predators?
The male platypus has a poison spur in its hind legs which can kill small animals, and injure ones larger than itself.
What mammal hatches eggs and has young that feed on milk from the mother's pores?
There are two mammals that fit this description: the platypus and the echidna. Both of these animals are monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. they are still classified as mammals even though they lay eggs, because the young feed on mothers' milk. They do not drink milk in the traditional way, via teats, but instead the milk is distributed via the mother's pores or glands (teats are really just specially developed glands).
No.
Whilst the Aborigines no doubt hunted and ate platypuses, it is illegal to eat a platypus now.
