One of a kind in the natural world, the Platypus looks like a cross between a duck and a beaver. With waterproof fur and webbed feet, it is well equipped for its life of hunting in the river beds of Australia and Tasmania.
Sixth Sense: Keeping its eyes closed underwater. the Platypus relies on its bill to find food. The bill has millions of tiny sensors that enable the Platypus to pick up electric impulses and home in incredible accuracy
Poison Spurs: This creature is one of few venomous mammals. The male Platypus has a sharp, hollow spike on each hind leg that can inject poison. The spikes are used in defense or in fights between males over territory.
Animal Jumble[]
The Platypus stays underwater for a minute or two when it feeds
Its no wonder that when the first Platypus skin was shown to naturalists in Europe, they thought it was a hoax. This creature looks like it was made with spare parts from other animals. The bill is like a ducks; its webbed feet and tail are like a beaver's. It has poison glands like a snake and lays eggs like a reptile. And it has fur and nurses its young with milk like a mammal. Although it is officially classified as a mammal, the Platypus probably has ancestors that were reptiles.
Ruffling Ridges: The Platypus scoops up prey with its bill, but the creature doesn't have teeth. It crunches up its prey by using hard ridges inside the bill.
Retractable Web: Webbed feet help make the Platypus a strong swimmer. When on land, however the webbing folds back so the animal can walk steadily on ground.
Search and Destroy[]
- Swimming through a stream, the Platypus uses its bill to pick up electric impulses from insect larvae on the riverbed. Alert to the prey, the Platypus closes in.
- The Platypus feels around the riverbed with its sensitive bill, scoops up the dragonfly larvae and crunches down the unlucky prey.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The diving platypus photo used on the back of the card is the main image used for the platypus's card in the Wildlife Explorer series.
- The platypus is the only venomous mammal not featured in Toxic Terrors.
- The platypus is mentioned on the knowledge card of its other featured relative, the Short-Beaked Echidna.
- The platypus is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Know Your Noses on Monster Mania 16.
- It is later featured in Legend Has It... on Monster Mania 53.