Have you ever seen a platypus? Unless you live in Australia or visit the Zoo Safari Park in San Diego, California, you can only see platypuses in a picture or a video. But they are the most fascinating creatures! When you see them, you realize that God must have a very good sense of humor if he created creatures like these. Buddy Davis, a Christian speaker, singer, and songwriter for Answers in Genesis, wrote the funniest song about a platypus called “It’s Designed to Do“ where he describes all their features. You can click on the link and sing along with Buddy Davis.
So What Exactly Is a Platypus?
The platypus is an incredible creature that looks like a combination of different animals. It has a bill that looks like a duck’s, webbed feet like a duck’s as well, a flat tail like a beaver’s, and fur on its body like an otter’s. It thrives in rivers, lakes, and streams, where it can find food and build its burrows. It truly stands out as one of the most extraordinary animals in nature.
Physical Characteristics
A platypus is relatively small, measuring about 14 to 20 inches in length and weighing around 2 to 5 pounds. Its duck-like bill helps it catch prey. It is packed with sensors that detect the electrical signals emitted by the prey, making the platypus an exceptional hunter. Thanks to its webbed feet, which propel it through the water with ease, the platypus is an excellent swimmer. Its flat tail is used for steering in the water.
Reproduction
Unlike most mammals, platypuses are unique because they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is similar to how birds or reptiles reproduce. Female platypuses build nests underground, incubating their leathery eggs for about 10 days before they hatch. They are born with closed eyes and without fur, but they have a strong sense of touch. The mother continues to care for her babies, nursing them with milk she produces from special mammary glands.
Diet
Platypuses are carnivores, mainly feeding on insects, small crustaceans, and even small fish. They use their sensitive bills to scoop up food from the water or dig into the riverbed to find tasty morsels. They can detect tiny movements and vibrations, allowing them to locate their prey with precision.
Behavior
Platypuses are most active during the night and spend much of their time in the water. They prefer to live alone and usually only come together during mating season.
Fun Facts
Platypuses are one of the few mammals classified as monotremes, which means they lay eggs and produce milk to feed their young. Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs, making them one of the few venomous mammals in the world.
To help you, children, remember some of these facts, we have written the following story that brings these fascinating animals to life:
Platypuses: The Mysterious Creatures of the Water
One day Sarah and her little brother Max walked along the river in their hometown in Australia. Suddenly, they noticed something strange swimming in the water.
“Look, Max! What is that?” Sarah asked, pointing at the furry creature.
“I don’t know,” Max said, squinting his eyes. “It looks like a duck, but it has a furry body and a beaver tail!”
Sarah smiled. “That’s a platypus! They’re one of the most unique animals in the world.”
“Ahh,” Max replied. “I always wanted to see one.”
“When platypuses were first discovered,” said Sarah, “people thought they were fake! They thought someone had made them up by putting different animal parts together. But these people were wrong! Platypuses are real, and they are really awesome!”
As they watched the platypus dive underwater, Sarah continued, “Did you know that the male platypuses are venomous?”
“Venomous?” Max repeated. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” said Sarah, “that they have poison inside their bodies to protect themselves or catch their prey.”
“How can something so cute be venomous?” Max shook his head in disbelief. “What else do you know about them?”
“Platypuses lay eggs, even though they’re mammals,” Sarah said. “And they spend about 12 hours every day underwater looking for food. They have two layers of fur to help them stay warm and dry when they swim. They eat insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, worms, and yabbies.”
“Yabbies?” Max asked, puzzled.
“Yes, yabbies are a type of freshwater crayfish,” Sarah said. “And platypuses are great at finding them because they use electronic impulses, just like sharks, to detect underwater prey and find objects in the darkest depths of the creeks and rivers they call home.”
Max nodded, impressed. “That’s so cool! Is baby platypus cute just like other baby animals?”
Sarah smiled. “Of course, it is. Did you know that it is called a puggle?”
Max laughed. “That’s funny! I wonder how fast it can swim.”
“Baby platypus cannot swim,” said Sarah. “That is why it has to stay close to its mother who teaches it everything.”
“Another funny thing is,” Sarah continued, “that it doesn’t have a stomach. Can you imagine that a cow has four stomachs and beaked whale has up to nine, but a baby platypus doesn’t have any? The food runs from their beak right down into their tubes called intestines.”
“Sarah, can you tell me a story about a platypus?” asked Max. His feet hurt from walking and he wanted to sit down.
“Sure,” Sarah pointed out towards a tree, “let’s rest a bit over there.”
As they made themselves comfortable, Sarah began:
Once upon a time, in a creek far away, there was a family of platypuses eagerly waiting for their new babies to hatch from their eggs. The mommy platypus had been keeping a close eye on the eggs for over a month, making sure they stayed warm and safe.
Finally, one day, the eggs started to crack! The little platypus babies were using their egg teeth to break free from their shell prison. It was hard work, but after some time, they finally managed to get out of their eggs and see the world for the first time.
The mommy platypus was overjoyed to see her babies hatch, and she spent the next few months taking care of them in their cozy nursery. She fed them milk, kept them warm, and made sure they were happy and healthy.
As the babies grew bigger and stronger, they started to get more curious about the world outside their nursery. And finally, after about four months of being cooped up, they were ready for their very first swim!
The little platypus babies were a bit nervous at first, but with their mommy by their side, they soon found their footing in the water. They swam around, exploring their new home and having fun.
As they started to grow, something strange began to happen. They were losing all their teeth! The little platypus babies were confused and scared. How were they going to eat without any teeth?
But don’t worry, little platypuses, the adult platypuses have a special trick up their sleeves. They use little rocks or gravel to help them chew their food up. It might seem strange, but it works!
And so, the little platypus babies grew up, happy and healthy, thanks to the love and care of their mommy. And even though they lost their teeth, they knew that they could always count on their family to teach them what to do when they needed it.”
“Did you like the story, Max?” Sarah asked.
“Oh, yes, very much!” exclaimed Max. “Can you tell me another one?
“Maybe some other time,” said Sarah and got up. “We have to go home now.”
On their way back to their house, Sarah said, “Max, now you know why people used to think that platypuses were fake! But they are real, and they are really awesome!”
Do you like platypuses? Let us know what you like about them in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
Coloring Picture of a Platypus
Feel free to download this picture by right-clicking on the image and then clicking “Save image as…” on the drop-down menu.
