Platypus - One Of The Few Mammals To Produce Venom

The platypus belongs to the group of primitive egg-laying mammals (only one of two mammals, the echidna is the other) called monotremes, found only in Australia, including Tasmania. It swims and dives, mainly in the morning and evening, in search of food such as shellfish, insect larvae and worms, along with bits of gravel and mud from the bottom. A platypus does not have teeth, so the bits of gravel help the platypus to "masticate" its meal. It is equipped for its aquatic life with soft, dense brown fur, a broad tail and webbed feet. Its eyes and ears are closed by skin flaps under water in order to prevent water from entering, and the nostrils close with a watertight seal. It relies on a well- developed sense of touch with its sensitive snout to locate prey.

The platypus is one of the few mammals to produce venom. Males have a pair of spurs on their back limbs which deliver a poison capable of bringing severe pain to humans. Platypuses live in burrows in river banks, where the females lay their eggs, which hatch in about 10 days. Females nurse their young for about three to four months until the babies are capable of swimming on their own.
Source: National Geographic

Interesting Facts About The Long Beaked Echidna

I´d like to share with you some interesting facts about a very peculiar creature that I read about the other day in an article. This amazing creature is called a Long-beaked echidna, but unfortunately it is about to become extinct, unless something is done. Numbers have decreased due to human activities such as hunting, deforestation, mining and farming. The species is listed as endangered by the IUCN.

The Long-beaked echidna is immediately recognizable because of its long snout which makes up two thirds of its head. The snout is tubular with a very small mouth, through which its long tongue can be quickly extruded and retracted. Lack of teeth in the species is compensated by rows of “spikes/horny” teeth-like projections on the long tongue of the animal. Unlike the Short-beaked Echidna, which eats ants and termites, the Long-beaked species eats almost exclusively earthworms, though it may feed on other soil-dwelling invertebrates, and from time to time ants. Another interesting feature about this animal is its hind legs. The toes point outwards so if you look only at its feet, it’s quit complicated to tell which direction the animal is supposed to move. The Long-beaked echidna has spines of varying length mixed together with fur on its back, sides and tail.

The long-beaked echidna is one of the two types (Platypus is the other one) of mammals that lay shell-covered eggs which are incubated and hatched outside of the body of the mother. A female echidna can lay up to 6 eggs at a time which are kept in its pouch until they hatch. After hatching the young will remain in the pouch for around 6 weeks before finally venturing out. Long-beaked echidnas are known to live over 30 years in captivity.

Images from: www.bbc.co.uk