1. Duck-like Bill: The platypus has a broad, flat bill that resembles that of a duck. This bill is covered in soft skin and contains sensory receptors that help it detect small prey in the water.
2. Webbed Feet: The platypus has webbed feet that enable it to swim efficiently. The webbing helps propel it through the water when foraging or diving.
3. Spur: Male platypuses have a sharp, venomous spur on each hind foot. They use these spurs for defense and during mating season. The venom in the spur can cause pain and swelling in humans, but it is not usually life-threatening.
4. Fur: Platypuses have dense, water-resistant fur that helps to keep them warm and dry in their semi-aquatic environment.
5. Egg-laying: Platypuses are one of the few mammals that lay eggs. The female platypus lays her eggs in a burrow along the riverbank. She incubates the eggs with her body until they hatch.
6. Milk Production: After hatching, the baby platypuses (known as puggles) are fed by their mother's milk. The mother platypus does not have nipples, but instead has mammary glands that produce milk which the puggles lap up from her fur.
7. Electrolocation: Platypuses have a unique sense called electrolocation. They use electroreceptors located in their bill to detect electrical currents generated by the movement of small aquatic prey, such as insects and worms.
8. Burrowing: Platypuses construct burrows along riverbanks for shelter and nesting. These burrows can be several metres long and have multiple chambers.
9. Nocturnal Behaviour: Platypuses are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night and rest during the day.
10. Solitary Animals: Platypuses are generally solitary animals, except during the breeding season. They have well-defined territories and may defend them against other platypuses of the same sex.
These are some of the key features that characterise the platypus, making it a truly remarkable and iconic creature of the Australian wilderness.