🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Carnivore
⏱️
Lifespan
10–17 years
⚖️
Weight
0.5–2.5 kg
Population Trend
➡️Stable
Description
One of only five egg-laying mammals, the platypus is a semiaquatic marvel with a duck-like bill and venomous spurs.
Habitat
🌿 river🌿 stream🌿 freshwater wetland
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Monotremata
Family
Ornithorhynchidae
Genus
Ornithorhynchus
Fun Facts
1
When first discovered, scientists thought it was a hoax — a stitched-together animal.
2
Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs, one of few venomous mammals.
3
They electrolocate prey by detecting electric fields in water with their bill.
4
They close their eyes, ears, and nose underwater, relying entirely on their bill to hunt.
5
Platypuses have no stomach — their esophagus connects directly to the intestine.