1. It Lays Eggs: Unlike almost all other mammals, platypuses reproduce by laying eggs. This ancient trait links them more closely to reptiles and birds than to most mammals.
2. It Has a Duck-Like Bill: The platypus's bill is its most iconic feature. It's flat, rubbery, and covered in electroreceptors, which allow it to detect the faint electrical fields produced by its prey underwater.
3. It's Venomous: Male platypuses have a venomous spur on their hind legs. While not lethal to humans, the venom can cause severe pain and swelling.
4. It Has a "Sixth Sense": As mentioned above, platypuses have electroreceptors in their bills, which act as a sixth sense, allowing them to detect the electrical signals generated by their prey in the murky water.
5. It's a "Monotreme": Platypuses belong to a group of mammals called monotremes, which lay eggs and have some other unique features. The only other living monotremes are the echidnas.
6. It's a "Basal Mammal": Platypuses are considered a "basal mammal," meaning they represent a very ancient lineage, diverging from other mammals early in their evolutionary history. This makes them important for understanding the evolution of mammals.
7. It Has a Furry Body: Despite its unique traits, the platypus still has a furry body, a defining characteristic of mammals.
The platypus's unusual combination of features makes it a fascinating creature, highlighting the incredible diversity and evolutionary history of the animal kingdom.