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Platypus. Made by Mrs. Everham. NAME. Duck Billed Platypus Kingdom-Animalia Phylum-Chordata Class-Mammalia Order-monotremata Family-ornithorhynchidae Genus-ornithorhynchidae Species-ornithorhynchidae anatinus. APPEARANCE. Length : 24 inches Height : 12 inches Weight : 1.5-5.5 pounds.
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Platypus Made by Mrs. Everham
NAME • Duck Billed Platypus • Kingdom-Animalia • Phylum-Chordata • Class-Mammalia • Order-monotremata • Family-ornithorhynchidae • Genus-ornithorhynchidae • Species-ornithorhynchidae anatinus
APPEARANCE • Length: 24 inches • Height: 12 inches • Weight: 1.5-5.5 pounds. • Color: Usually brown.
DIET • Meat: • Fresh water shrimp, worms, and some fish. • No plants • Acquiring Food: • Searches for food from dawn to nearly sunset. • Fun fact: • Can consume its full body weight in just a 24 hour time period!
HABITAT • Part of the World: • Southern Australia • Environment: • Australian fresh water lakes and streams. • Nest is burrowed in the ground.
BEHAVIOR • During the Day: • Swimming • Underground • During Dusk: • Wallows around above ground • Temperament: • Platypuses are shy and wary. • Habits and unique behavior: • Sweeps its head from side to side to locate prey. • Underwater the platypus closes its eyes, ears, and nostrils.
DEFENSES • Male platypus has a poisonous spur on each of it’s hind legs • Not lethal against humans, but is still very painful. • Female has these spurs, but they do not produce venom.
ENEMIES • Snakes • Water Rats • Monitor Lizards • Hawks • Owls • Eagles • Humans
SURVIVAL STATUS • Produces Young: • Lays 1-3 eggs at once • Eggs hatch about 28 days after mating • Endangered?: • Not currently considered to be endangered. • "Common but Vulnerable" in Australia. • Life Span: • 4-5 years for male • 6-8 years for female.
SOMETHING SPECIAL • The platypus bill is rubbery and flexible. • Platypuses sweat milk • In the 1900’s platypuses were hunted for their fur. • They are the one of two mammals that lay eggs. (also the echidna)
SOMETHING SPECIAL • There is no plural word for platypus. • Some Australians eat platypus • It is still illegal to hunt the platypuses.
SOURCES • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus • http://www.australianfauna.com/platypus.php • http://australian-animals.net/plat.htm • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/platypus/ • http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=platypus&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=