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Platypus

Platypus. Jess Hillegas. What it looks like. The platypus is a mix of a duck, beaver, and otter . It has a ducks webbed feet and bill It has an otters body shape and fur And the tail of a beaver. +. =. +. Where is it found?. E astern Australia

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Platypus

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  1. Platypus Jess Hillegas

  2. What it looks like • The platypus is a mix of a duck, beaver, and otter. • It has a ducks webbed feet and bill • It has an otters body shape and fur • And the tail of a beaver + = +

  3. Where is it found? • Eastern Australia • Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

  4. Where is it found; cont. • Freshwater rivers or lakes • Burrows for shelter and protection

  5. How Does it Get Food? • The platypus searches underwater • Can stay underwater 1-2 minutes • Eats insects, larvae, shellfish, and worms • Has folds of skin over eyes and ears to protect from water • Can eat their own body weight in 24 hours

  6. Physical Features • Platypus does not have teeth • They walk very awkwardly on land • Webbed feet retract so they can run • Have sharp claws • Males have poisonous stingers in back feet

  7. Stingers • Only the males have this protection • when “stung” the venom can cause severe pain to humans • the venom can lower blood pressure or increase blood flow around the sting • is not lethal to most animals

  8. Reproduction • Use nails to burrow in ground by water • Female lays 1-2 eggs in the burrow • Then holds eggs between body and tail to keep incubated • Egg is about the size of a lima bean • Hatch in about 10 days • Mother nurses 3-4 months until babies can swim

  9. When are they active? • During the day, a Platypus spends most of its time resting in this burrow or basking in the sun and grooming its fur • But they are most active after dusk and before dawn • Sleep 17 hours a day

  10. Predators • Hawks, eagles, owls, crocodiles, water-rats, pythons, goannas, foxes, dogs, and cats, dingoes, and even eels E a g l e Crocodile Goanna

  11. Egg Laying Mammals • Only the platypus and one other mammal lay eggs • Echidna; aka spiny anteaters • Live in New Guinea and Australia

  12. Platypus • It is like Australia’s mascot • It is on the back of Australia’s 20 cent coin • The platypus is the animal emblem of New South Wales

  13. Size • Length of head and body: about 15 in • Tail: about 5 in. • Weight: about 3 lbs. • Size compared to a 6 foot man;

  14. Life span • Can live up to about 18 years in captivity • In natural habitat; • 4-5 years for males • 6-8 years for females.

  15. Sound • Rarely make noises • Can make high pitched squeal • Only does this when feels threatened

  16. History • Scientific name: Ornithorhynchusanatinus • Archeologists found ancient platypus remains in the Patagonian region of South America

  17. Platypus • First evolved 112 million years ago • Humans used to trap platypus for their skin • In 1912 a law passed so not allowed • Now population is healthy

  18. Fast Facts • Baby platypus is called a puggle • Scientists are trying to breed more platypus to have a second generation • Their fur is dark brown on top and tan underneath

  19. Sources • http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/platypus/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/platypus/ • http://www.platypus.org.uk/

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