![]() ![]() The mating occurs in the water, and the courtship dance, which can last for days, is thought to include bill nuzzling, cuddling, rolling sideways together, diving, and different swimming movements where the female swims in a small, tight circle and is followed by the male, who holds onto her tail using his jaws. When a female decides that she accepts the male as her new mate, she may allow him to bite her on the tail, and she responds by biting his tail in return. Interesting mating facts: It is thought that the male’s sharp spurs on the hind legs may be used to hold down the female for successful mating. ![]() Eventually, he recovers and swims or staggers away.įollowing mating season, the male platypus’ venom-producing glands become dormant, and the testes return to normal size. As the victor of the mating contest goes off to woo the female, the losing male’s limbs may become paralyzed and collapse. When they fight over females, they may wrap their legs around their rival and violently stab the other with their sharp spurs, injecting venom. The male platypuses’ level of venom increases, their testes begin to swell, and they begin to seek their mates. ![]() But that changes when mating season comes along. Platypus tend to be shy and mainly nocturnal and are primarily interested in hunting the river bottom for shrimp, crayfish, and insect larvae. If a person makes a male platypus feel threatened, particularly during mating season, the p latypus can be dangerous and may produce his secret weapon and viciously drive his spurs into his provoker. Ancient platypus fossils suggest that ancestors of modern-day platypuses may have been approximately twice as big in comparison. Platypus that live in colder climates tend to be larger than those that live in warmer climates. Female adult platypuses tend to be smaller than males, averaging approximately 17 inches in length. ![]() Importantly, they are one of the few mammals that are able to deliver poisonous venom when feeling threatened or battling with another male platypus when seeking a mate.Ī male adult platypus is on average 20 inches long, including their approximately 5-inch tail, and about 3 pounds. Although female monotremes do not have nipples, they produce milk for their young that is released through pores in the skin.Īs noted above, platypus have flat bills, webbed feet, paddle-like tails, and slick, glossy, furry bodies. Known as puggles, baby platypus that are born from eggs also suckle their mother following their hatching. Rather, they lay eggs as did their amniote ancestors-vertebrates that underwent embryonic development within the innermost membrane (called an amnion), including reptiles, birds, and some mammals. Platypus are endemic to rivers in eastern Australia and are monotremes, meaning that unlike most mammals, they do not give live birth. The venomous barbs can deliver a poison that is thought to be able to kill small animals and produce severe swelling and excruciating pain in humans. The male platypus uses the venom against predators or when competing against other males when seeking mates. Male platypus essentially have a secret weapon: spurs on the back of their hind legs connecting to a gland (known as a crural gland) that secretes venom. Notably, they are one of the few mammals that are venomous and are also illegal as pets. Can you have a platypus as a pet?Īlthough many may find them cute due to their flat bills and webbed feet reminiscent of ducks, paddle-like tails like beavers, and their glossy, furry bodies as seen in otters, you should not pursue to have a platypus as a pet as they can actually be extremely dangerous animals. In fact, according to the BBC, when a platypus was first brought from Australia to Britain, most who viewed the animal didn’t believe that it was real but that it was actually two animals sewn together. Platypus, which are endemic to eastern Australia, are semiaquatic, egg-laying mammals that are intriguing and highly unusual animals with a truly unique appearance. ![]()
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