Duckbill Platypus

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Duckbill Platypus

• An Amazing Mammal
• By Miss Fulghum

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OBJECTIVESStudents will be able to

• Describe characteristics of the duckbill platypus
  that help it survive
• Understand the basic needs of the duckbill
  platypus

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LOCATION

• Eastern Australia
• Tasmania
• They live near freshwater lakes and rivers.

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EXISTENCE?

• In the 1700s, European scientists thought that
  the platypus did not exist.
• Naturalists from Australia sent a live platypus
  to Europe to prove its existence.

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CONSERVATION

• Platypus was close to extinction in the 19th
  century because they were hunted for their fur.
• Fishermen did not like them because they like to
  eat fish.
• Now, they are protected by law.

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HOME

• They live in burrows that they dig underground
  near water.
• Burrows can be up to 60 feet long.

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CLASSIFICATION

• These mammals are classified as Monotremes.
• There are only two animals in this group
  Platypus and Echidna.
• They are the only mammals that lay eggs rather
  than give birth.

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CHARACTERISTICS

• Mammal
• Webbed feet
• Beaver-like tail
• Bill like a duck that has sensitive nerve endings
• Bill is a long snout that is soft, leathery skin
• Lays eggs
• Produces milk for young
• Can live up to 15 years in the wild

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SIZE AND COLOR

• Body is 14 inches long
• Tail is 5 inches long
• Males are usually slightly larger than females.
• Colors vary from yellowish to dark brown.

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FUR

• Fur is fine and dense.
• There are two layers undercoat and long guard
  fur.
• Together, the layers trap air in order to keep
  the platypus dry even after swimming for long
  periods of time.
• Water never gets through to the skin.

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SWIMMING

• The platypus has webbed feet and a tail like a
  beaver.
• This helps them dive and swim through the water
  with ease.
• They close their eyes and ears when swimming.
• 12 hours a day

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HUNTING

• Use the sense of touch
• Have no teeth
• Bills are used to detect tiny electrical charges
  from muscle activity.
• Detect these traces from 2-4 away.
• Stores food in cheek pouches.

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FOOD

• Worms
• Fish
• Tadpoles
• Frogs
• Crustaceans

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NATURAL ENEMIES

• Large fish
• Some snakes
• Humans

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PROTECTION

• Males have hind feet claws (spurs) on their
  ankles that connect to a venom gland.
• Toxin is strong enough to kill a dog and can
  cause severe pain in humans.
• Spurs are used when they fight with another male
  platypus.

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BABIES

• Females usually lay two soft, leathery eggs but
  may lay up to four.
• She clasps the eggs against her abdomen with her
  tail for about two weeks.
• Milk is produced by glands under mothers skin,
  and the baby licks milk from her fur.

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BABIES

• Have no fur
• Blind for about two months
• Have teeth for a short time
• Helpless

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Review

• Unique mammals
• Lay eggs
• Live near fresh water
• Have no teeth as adults
• Have webbed feet and beaver-like tail

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The End!