I love animals - Reading, videos for small kids - Part 39 Platypus

in #steemiteducation6 years ago (edited)

A funny name for a funny looking animal - it almost looks like a cross with a beaver type of animal and a duck.  The back of the animal looks like a beaver with the beak of a duck and it also has webbed feet and lies eggs.   It also spends some of its time in the water, so it is called a 'semi-aquatic' animal.  

A very strange animal indeed - lets learn some more about it.

The platypus is only found in eastern Australia in small rivers and streams within the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. 

When scientists first discovered these animals and made drawing to show the others in their countries, most people thought it was a joke and that this was just a drawing made of different animals and that it was not real.

A platypus is one of only two mammals that lie eggs and not give birth to live young.  They lay the eggs and it hatches within 2 weeks.  A female can lie 2-4 eggs at a time.

On the back foot's ankle of the male platypus, you will find a spur that contains venom.  It can kill small animals and even if it is not fatal to humans it will burn a lot.

A platypus will be hunted by crocodiles, owls, eagles and snakes, but if they can escape their predators, they can stay alive for up to 12 years in the wild.

They will dive under the water looking for food and can hold their breath for about 30 seconds before they come up for air again.

Platypus close their eyes and ears when under water, so in order to feed on worms, insects, and freshwater shrimp, they use their sense of electroreception and dig up muddy river beds with their bill to detect the electric fields of prey. 

This means the following - all living things on earth gives off and 'electric field' and the platypus has special receptors that can pick up these vibrations and know where the prey is.  

  • Have a look at the video that explains this to you.

If the platypus has caught its prey, it stores it in the pouch in its cheeks (almost like a hamster) and will eat it when it comes out of the water.

They are most active at night (nocturnal) or when the weather is overcast or the light is dim.  Not great lovers of sunlight.

People use to hunt these animals for their fur, but it is now a protected animal in Australia.  Even though they are not on the verge of becoming extinct, their numbers are going lower because of pollution of dams and rivers.  You can read more here.

The platypus has been used as a mascot for national events in Australia and is featured on the Australian 20 cent coin. 

Truly a very unique little animal.

  • Watch the myth of where the platypus comes from.

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