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Platipus
Description
Platipus are venomous creatures.Their solitary mammals,lives either feeding or resting . They are very energetic under water,hunts for prey and steer with their hint feet and beaver-like tail.the Folds of skin covers their eyes and ears and nostrils covered watertight seal to prevent water from entering.Their diet contains insects , worms, larvae and shellfish.They don't have teeth so bits of gravel help them to chew their prey.Their webbing feet act to reveal individual nail and allows it to run.
They have a special ability to hunt by sensing the electrical signals in the heart of its prey.Their also special because of venom production in its venom glands.And these venom glands are connected to hind legs and hallow spurs of the platipus which will be the output of venom.This venom is used to kill its prey but it's not deathly to human but will cause swelling .Platipuses doesn't have a stomach,Their esophagus directly connected to its intestines.
Classification
Scientific name - Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Order-Monotremata
Family- Ornithorhynchidea
Kingdom- Animallia
Class- Mammalia
phylum - Chordata
Genus-Ornithorhynchus
Distribution
The platipuses live in both water and land, so it make them amphibian. They only live in Australia.Their current range extends along the east and southeast coast of mainland Australia.
Countries
Australia
Males and females become fully grown in the age of 18 months. Platipuses can live nearly 23 years in captiviy. They are one of only two mammals who lays eggs.They lay eggs in burrows and keeps them warm by holding them between their body and tail.The female platipuses lay 1 to 2 eggs.Water extraction ,dams and diversions to water flow have a big impact.Snakes,crocodiles
,wild dogs makes platipuses their prey.
Scientist believes their venom could be helpful in the battle against Diabetes .Platipuses are least conserned species in the IUCN red list ,but they might be threatened in the future .Current population estimates are 30,000–300,000.We must protect these amazing species in order to keep the balance of nature .
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