The Platypus
Platypus Time
The platypus is an incredibly unique Australian animal - not only because of its unusual appearance but it is also one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs (the other is the Echidna). Egg laying mammals are called monotremes.
It is very unlikely that you'll ever see platypuses in their natural habitat as they are mainly active at night. They make their homes in burrows along the banks of rivers and streams but spend most of their active time in the water. A platypus can usually swim underwater for about two minutes before returning to the surface for oxygen. Unlike fish, they cannot stay underwater forever or they will drown.
Imagine spending most of your time in the water - your skin would go all wrinkly like a prune and you'd probably get cold too! To keep comfortable in the water, the platypus has a thick coat of slightly oily fur (a bit like a wetsuit) that has three layers. The first layer is for warmth, the second provides insulation and the outer layer has long flat hairs that are used to detect objects that are close by.
Platypuses are strong but not fast swimmers. They use their webbed feet to pull them through the water and their tail acts as a rudder to help them steer. When swimming, platypuses keep their eyes closed and use their very sensitive bill (which looks similar to a duck's bill) to search for food along the riverbed. Some of their favorite foods include worms, shrimp, crayfish and freshwater insects. Yummy!
When a female platypus is ready to have babies, she makes her way to a long winding burrow that she has built in the riverbank and lays up to 4 eggs. When the eggs hatch the very tiny, hairless young platypuses will depend on their mother for milk as well as protection from predators. The young lick milk from a patch (like an open pouch) on their mum's stomach but by the time they are six months old they have learnt to look after themselves and will leave mum to find their own bit of riverbed. Platypuses usually live to the age of 12.
