Is it a Duck? Beaver? Otter? It's a Platypus!
Ever since I was a child, the platypus has always been one of my favorite animals. I can still vividly recall how I would go on Google and Youtube, looking at cool pictures and endless videos of platypi in action.
The platypus, a species that is native to no other body of land than Australia, is a uniquely interesting species because of its special physical features. What specifically intrigued me about these amazing animals was the fact that it appeared they had the bill and the webbed feet a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the body and fur of an otter, with almost shocking accuracy.
Look at this platypus and judge for yourself:
Even more fascinating is the fact that the male platypus is venomous. With their sharp stingers located on the heels of their back feet, they are capable of administering a strong toxin to any animal that gets in their way or tries to do them harm.
These animals are able to take on both water and land effectively. With their duck-like feet, they can easily and speedily swim through paddling. Their bodies are specifically made to handle water, as can be seen in the skin folds covering their ears and eyes and the watertight seal that blocks water from entering their nostrils when swimming. Underwater is where they obtain the majority of their nutrition, by feeding on organisms like worms, insects, and shellfish on the floor of the body of water they reside in. On land, they look a bit more funny than they do on water. They wobble from side to side with their webbed feet, and are even capable of running when they need to. On land, they use their sharp nails to make their burrows out of dirt by the water.
Has this blog post sparked your interest in this awesome animal? Let me know what you think!
The platypus, a species that is native to no other body of land than Australia, is a uniquely interesting species because of its special physical features. What specifically intrigued me about these amazing animals was the fact that it appeared they had the bill and the webbed feet a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the body and fur of an otter, with almost shocking accuracy.
Look at this platypus and judge for yourself:
These animals are able to take on both water and land effectively. With their duck-like feet, they can easily and speedily swim through paddling. Their bodies are specifically made to handle water, as can be seen in the skin folds covering their ears and eyes and the watertight seal that blocks water from entering their nostrils when swimming. Underwater is where they obtain the majority of their nutrition, by feeding on organisms like worms, insects, and shellfish on the floor of the body of water they reside in. On land, they look a bit more funny than they do on water. They wobble from side to side with their webbed feet, and are even capable of running when they need to. On land, they use their sharp nails to make their burrows out of dirt by the water.
Has this blog post sparked your interest in this awesome animal? Let me know what you think!
Comments
Post a Comment