ThelateafternoonsunfiltersthroughtheleavesontheedgeofariverinAustralia.Awormwrigglesalongthemurkybottomandcomestorestunderasmallpileofpebbles.Thelightfades,andthewormiswelloutofsightfromhungry predators.


Asmallsplashripplesneartheriverbank.Aweb-footedhunterhasemergedfromitsden.Itclosesitseyesandsealsitsearsandnostrilsagainstthewater.Itpaddlesitspowerfulfrontfeet.Itzipsthroughthewaterlookingforfood.Thewormcannotbeseen,butthishuntercan
sense it.

Thisplatypusdives underwater.

Witheyesclosed,thisplatypusdivesunderwaterandfindsatastywormto eat.

Wavingitssensitiveduckbill-shapedsnoutbackandforth,thehunterpicksupaslightelectricpulseofenergywithinthewormandzeroesin.Suddenly,itopensitstoothlessmouth,scoopsupthepebblesandtheworm,anddartsuptothesurfacewhereittakesadeepbreaththengrindsthewholethingintoamush.Thestonesdribbleoutofitsmouth,andthehunterswallowsthesoftwormy mush. 


Thisamazingpredatorisaplatypus,anditisoneweird-lookingcreature.Butthesumisgreaterthanitsparts,anditisoneofthemostuniqueanimalsontheplanet.Platypuseshavesomeamazingbody-designfeaturesthatsetthemapartfromyouraveragemammal.Itstartsfrom birth.

PlatypusParenting

It’searlymorningandtheinkydarknessisliftingovertheriver.Aplatypususesherwebbedfrontfeettopaddletothebank.Shepullsherselfoutofthewaterandshakesbriefly.Hercoatispracticallydryalready.Onceonland,sheretractsthewebbinginherfeetandwaddlestoherden.Shewrigglesthroughtheopening.Itiswarmanddry.Shebeginstodigsoilloosewithhersharpclawstocreateanewchamberoffthemain burrow. 


Snoutfirst,sheentersthechamberandkicksthesoilwithherbackfeettosealherselfoff.Oncesettled,shelaysoneleatheryegg.Thenshelaysasecondegg.Theyaresmall—thesizeofmarbles.Sheholdstheeggsbetweenherbodyandtailtokeepthem warm.

Afterabouttwoweeks,themarble-sizedeggstrembleandtear.Outofeacheggemergesabean-size,pinkplatypus.Theyarehairless,blind,andhelplessastheyundertakethelongjourneyofafewinchestotheirmother’sbelly.Whentheyreachthespot,theylatchontoherfurandwaittobe fed.


Likeallmammals,platypusesnursetheirbabiesaftertheyhatch.Butunlikeothermammals,theynursetheminauniqueway.Milkleaksfromopeningsbetweenthefoldsofherbellyskin.Thebabiessuckthemilkupthroughher fur. 


Thebabiesliveonmilkforthreetofourmonths.Whentheyareabletoswimandeatbythemselves,theyarereadyforlifeontheir own.

Platypusesnursetheiryoungin burrows. 

Animal Hoax?

WhenthefirstplatypuswassenttoscientistsinEnglandin1799,itcausedquiteastir.Mostwereconvinceditwasahoax.Theythoughtsomeonehadsewntogetherbitsofanimalstoplayajoke.Howcouldamammalhaveabeak,webbedfeet,andlay eggs?Forthatmatter,howcouldabirdhavefurandnursebabies?Becausetheplatypuswassodifferent,noonecouldbelieveitwas real.

Platypuseggsarethesizeof marbles.