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Platypus, duckbill - ORNITHORHYNCHUS ANATINUS
Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "platypus": "Platypus" is derived from Greek for "flat foot," which refers to the flipper-like feet which assist the platypus in swimming.
Location: Eastern Australia, Tasmania.
Habitat: The duckbill platypus is an aquatic animal. It lives in burrows mostly along riverbanks but also alongside freshwater streams and lakes. Its burrow usually has one opening above water and another opening under the water; this allows a quick exit in the face of danger.
Description: The name "duckbill" comes from the fact that the platypus has a long, wide, flat, flexible, leathery bill that looks very much like a duck's bill. An adult platypus has no teeth, but it does have horny plates inside the bill. The body is long and sleek. It is covered with short, velvety brown fur for fast swimming. It has a short, wide tail. The feet are webbed (but they don't look like duck feet). The male platypus has a poisonous spur on each of his hind feet; the female does not. Males are about 24" long, including their bill and tail; they weigh 4½ lbs. The females are smaller -- about 18" long.
Behavior: The platypus is active at twilight. It digs through the muddy river bottom with its bill and collects tiny aquatic animals, which it crushes in its bill or stores in cheek pouches, where sand and stones help to "chew" the food. The platypus closes its eyes and ears underwater and can stay down for about one minute at a time.
Reproduction: The platypus builds a nest of grass and leaves and lays from one to three small eggs annually (usually two). They are incubated by the mother for 12 to 14 days. After they hatch the mother suckles the babies with milk. By 17 weeks, they are read to leave the burrow and swim.
Note: The venomous spurs on the male's hind feet are probably used for defense or to help in the capture of small prey such as frogs, but this is not certain. Females do not have the spur, and the specific use of these spurs is still a mystery.
Go to the Monotremes Page to learn more about these unique animals.
Go to the Spiny Anteater, the only other Monotreme listed in America Zoo.
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