ThesunpeeksthroughtheleavesontheedgeofariverinAustralia.Awormwrigglesalongthemurkybottom.Itrestsunderapileofpebbles.Thewormishiddenfrom predators.


Neartheriverbank,aweb-footedhuntercomesoutofitsden.Itdivesintothewater,huntingfor food.

This platypus dives underwater.

Thisplatypusdivesunderwaterwithitseyesclosed.Itfindsawormto eat.

Wavingitsduckbill-shapedsnout,itpicksupapulseofenergyfromtheworm.Itopensitsmouth,scoopingupthepebblesandtheworm.Zippinguptothesurface,itgrindsthewholethingintomush.Stonesdribbleoutofitsmouth.Thenthehunterswallowsthesoft,wormy mush.


Thisincrediblepredatorisaplatypus.Itisoneofthemostuniqueanimalsontheplanet.Platypuseshavefeaturesthatsetthemapartfromtheaveragemammal.Itstartsfrom birth.

PlatypusParenting

It’searlymorningontheriver.Aplatypususesherwebbedfrontfeettopaddletothebank.Shepullsherselfoutofthe water.


Onland,sheretractsthewebbinginherfeetandwaddlesintoherden.Shebeginstodigsoilloosewithherclaws.Today,sheisbuildinganewchamberoffthemain burrow.


Snoutfirst,sheentersthechamber.Shekicksthesoilwithherbackfeettosealherselfoff.Shelaysoneegg.Then,another.Sheholdsthesmalleggsbetweenherbodyandtailtokeepthem warm.

Afterabouttwoweeks,theeggshatch.Outofeacheggemergesabean-size,pinkplatypus.Theyarehairless,blind,andhelplessastheytakeajourneyofinchestotheirmother’sbelly.There,theylatchontoherfurandwaittobe fed.


Likeallmammals,platypusesnursetheiryoung.Unlikeothermammals,milkleaksfromopeningsbetweenthefoldsofherbellyskin.Babiessuckthemilkupthroughherfur.Whentheycanswimandeatbythemselves,theyarereadyforlifeontheir own.

Platypusesnursetheiryoungin burrows. 

Animal Hoax?

ThefirstplatypuswassenttoEnglandin1799.Mostscientiststhoughtitwasfake.Theythoughtsomeonehadsewntogetherbitsofanimalstoplayajoke.Howcouldamammalhaveabeak,webbedfeet,andlayeggs?Howcouldabirdhavefurandnursebabies?Becausetheplatypuswassodifferent,noonecouldbelieveitwas real

Platypuseggsarethesizeof marbles.