Thesunpeeksthroughtheleavesontheriver’sedge.Awormwrigglesalongthemurkybottom.Itrestsunderapileofpebbles.Asthelightfades,thewormishiddenfrom sight.


Neartheriverbank,aweb-footedhuntercomesoutofitsden.Itpaddlesitspowerfulfrontfeet.Itzipsthroughthewater,hunting food.

Thisplatypus dives underwater.

Witheyesclosed,thisplatypusdivesunderwater.Itfindsatastywormto eat

Wavingitssnout,itpicksuponthemovementsoftheworm.Itopensitsmouth,scoopinguppebblesandtheworm.Atthewater’ssurface,itgrindsthemintomush.Thehunterswallowsthewormymush,dribbling stones.


Thispredatorisaplatypus.Itisoneoftherarestanimalsontheplanet.Platypuseshavespecialbodyfeatures.Thefeaturessetthemapartfromothermammals.Itstartsfrom birth.

PlatypusParenting

It’searlymorningontheriver.Aplatypususesherwebbedfrontfeettopaddletothebank.Shepullsherselfoutofthewater.Onland,shepullsinthewebbingonherfeet.Shewaddlestoherden.Inherburrow,shedigsanewchamberwithher claws.


Snoutfirst,sheentersthechamber.Shekickssoiltosealherselfinside.Shelaysoneegg.Then,another.Sheholdsthembetweenherbodyandtailtokeepthem warm.

Aftertwoweeks,theeggstear.Abean-size,pinkplatypushatchesfromeachegg.Theyarehairless,blind,andhelpless.Still,theyinchtowardtheirmother’sbelly,waitingtobe fed.


Thebabiessuckthemilkfromopeningsbetweenfoldsofthemother’sbellyskin.Whentheycanswimandeatbythemselves,theyarereadyforlifeontheir own.

Platypusesnursetheiryoungin burrows. 

Animal Hoax?

ThefirstplatypuswassenttoEnglandin1799.Mostscientiststhoughtitwasafake.Theythoughtsomeonehadsewntogetherbitsofanimalstoplayajoke.Howcouldamammalhaveabeak,webbedfeet,andlayeggs?Howcouldabirdhavefurandnursebabies?Becausetheplatypuswassounusual,noonecouldbelieveitwas real.

Platypuseggsarethesizeof marbles.