Platypi

Page history last edited by BrookeJ 3 years, 2 months ago

Platypus:

a small, aquatic, egg-laying monotreme Ornithorhynchus anatinus, of Australia, having webbed feet, a tail like that of a beaver, a sensitive bill resembling that of a duck, and, in adult males, venom-injecting spurs on the ankles of the hind limbs, used primarily for fighting with other males during the breeding seasons.

Where Do They Live?

Platypi are found in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. They live in freshwater river and lakes. For shelter, they dig burrows. The burrow may be from six to sixteen meters long. At the end there is a small, cozy, sleeping chamber. The platypus camouflage their burrow so it is well hidden from predators. They’re active mainly at nighttime hours. When it comes to swimming the platypus uses its duck-like webbed feet. It might sound crazy but they swim with their eyes, nose, and ears shut. Kind of like whales they can’t stay underwater forever. The platypus swims underwater for 2 minutes before coming up for oxygen. However they can stay under for a maximum of 10 minutes. Due to their buoyancy, they need to stay under another object to do that.

How Big Is The Platypus?

The platypus is a soft animal with reddish or brown fur. The eyes of platypi are very small and they do not have external ears. They have three layers of fur! The first layer keeps the animal warm by trapping air. The second layer provides an insulating coat. Lastly the third layer of flat hair helps detect close objects. They’re covered in fur except their feet and bill. Platypi vary in size. They can be 30cm to 45cm in length and the tail about 10cm to 15cm. Male platypi are always longer than female platypi. Platypi weigh about 1 to 2.4 kilograms. Sadly they only live up to 12 years, but in Tasmania they last longer becasue there are less predators.

What do Platypi Eat?

The platypus usually feed at night. Platypi feed on shellfish, worms, larvae, shrimp, and other underwater insects. Also, the platypus can eat it's own weight in food in one night or day. How do they get this food? Well the platypi turn up the mud on the bottom of the lake or river, and with the help of their electroreceptor’s located on their bill; they find many worms or freshwater insects. They store their food in small pouches behind their bills. When they would like to eat the food, they take it to the surface breathes and chews the food. Since platypi do not have teeth they must scoop up tiny pebbles and use them like teeth for chewing.

How Do They Make More Platypi?

The platypus mate underwater. The structure of a male platypus is different than most animals because the testicles are inside the male's body by the kidney. The female structure is like birds and reptiles, they have paired ovaries. They do have two ovaries but only the left one is functional. The female platypus lay between 2-3 (usually two) eggs and incubates these eggs for 2 weeks in a nest of leaves. When the platypus is born they drink milk from their mother. The mother gets the milk from large glands under their skin. When the baby platypus is thirsty they milk appears on the mother’s fur. A baby platypus is not called a “puggle” which most people think it is. Scientists suggest “platypup” for the baby platypus. Learn about SEXUAL REPRODUCTION!

Interesting Fact!! (:

Do you think this animal is cute and cuddly? Well you’re half correct, only the females. Male platypi are extremely poisonous. The male platypus has a hollow spur about 15 millimeters in length on the inside of both hind legs. These are connected to a venom gland, and the platypus uses them to defend themselves against mean predators. The venom inside a male is so strong it can kill a dog, or cause excruciating pain to humans. The females were also born with these spurs but she looses them about 8 to 10 months into her life. Some of the predators of the platypus are spotted-tail quoll, dingo, feral cat, lizards, water rats, pythons, crocodiles, eels, and possibly other large fish.

__________________________________________________________________________