Awormwrigglesonthebottomoftheriver.Ithidesunderapileofrocks.Neartheriverbank,aweb-footedhuntercomesoutofitsden.It’shungry.Itdivesintothe water.


Thewormcan’thide.Thehunterpicksuponitsmovements.Itfindsthewormeasilyandsnapsit up.

Thisplatypusdivesdownintothe water.

Thisplatypusfindsawormto eat.

Thispredatorisaplatypus.Itisanunusualmammal.Itsstrangecombinationoffeatureshelpsitsurviveinits environment.

PlatypusParenting

Aplatypuspaddlestotheriverbank.Sheusesherwebbedfrontfeet.Onland,shewaddlestoherden.Deepinsideherden,shedigsanewchamberwithherclaws.There,shelaystwosmalleggs.Shewarmsthemwithher body.

Twoweekslater,theeggshatch.Thebean-sizebabiesarehairlessandblind.Theyarealsohungry.Themotherplatypusfeedsthemmilkfromfoldsinherskin.Whentheycanswimandeatbythemselves,theyarereadyforlifeontheir own.

Platypuseslivein burrows.

Platypuseggsare small.