Have you ever wondered what the platypus eats and where it lives? Surely you know that this peculiar animal lives in water and that it is similar to the beaver. However, why have we never come across one? The truth is that we are facing a unique animal of its kind and its diet is mainly carnivorous, feeding on small animals, but also algae.
Its body is similar to that of an otter, its snout could well be that of a duck and its tail resembles that of the beaver. But that’s not all, continue reading this article to find out what the platypus eats and where it lives; We assure you that there are more characteristics of this impressive animal that you do not know and will hallucinate you.
Platypus characteristics
The platypus is a mammal, semi-aquatic and mainly carnivorous animal. So far, we might think that it is only a species similar to the otter or the beaver, however, the main characteristic of this animal is that despite being a mammal it lays eggs. Surprised? The platypus is part of a group of mammals known as monotremes that are the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to young.
But this is not all, this animal has a duck’s beak, beaver’s tail and an otter’s body, a very unusual mixture that makes the platypus a unique animal worthy of admiration. If you also add that it is equipped with a spur on its hind legs that produces poison, there is no doubt about the peculiarity of the animal. In fact, it has been the subject of study since its discovery in the field of evolutionary biology, where it has tried to find out how it has adapted over time and how these changes have occurred.
What the platypus eats
The platypus’ diet consists mainly of algae found at the bottom of rivers, streams and lakes and animals that inhabit them, such as insects, shrimps, earthworms, crustaceans and mollusks. Despite their size, platypuses have a voracious hunger and can eat up to 20% of their body weight a day. Like mice and other rodents, the platypus is endowed with small jaw sacs in which it can deposit food to digest it later.
Thus, platypuses feed on:
- Insects
- Shrimp
- Crustaceans
- Molluscs
- Worms
- Algae
When platypuses eat
The time of day when this animal is most active is during the night. It takes advantage of the darkness to hunt its prey and hide from possible predators, such as snakes, eels, owls, eagles or hawks, among others. In this way, when it gets dark the platypus leaves its burrow in search of food, while during the day it usually shows you less active.
How they locate their prey
It is especially interesting to know that monothemes are also the only ones equipped with a system known as electroreception. Through this they are able to detect their prey through electric fields generated by muscles located in their snout, making the platypus an excellent hunter.
Feeding platypus hatchlings
Like most mammals, the feeding of platypus babies is based on breast milk. In the case of this animal, this period usually lasts between 3 and 4 months, from which they begin to look for their own food and adapt their diet to that of an adult platypus.
Where the platypus lives
The habitat of the platypus is the oceanic continent, specifically Australia. This continent has provided the platypus with adequate climatic conditions for its survival, despite the fact that there are different habitats and climates in them. In the case of the island of Tasmania the climate is mainly cold in its mountainous areas, while in the tropical forests of Queensland these animals are found with higher temperatures. Platypuses live in lakes, rivers and streams and spend much of the day underwater, where they can protect themselves from their prey.
How the platypus reproduces
When they are not in the breeding season, platypuses live in simple burrows that they build on land, which provides them with security and a place to take refuge. At the time of mating, the usual courtship of some animals begins. In the case of the platypus, the pair makes circular movements in the water while the male grabs the tail of the female with his beak.
Once the mating is finished, the female begins the construction of a second burrow in the water with an approximate depth of half a meter and dimensions that can reach up to 18 meters that she fills with soil and dead leaves.
How many eggs platypuses lay
Platypuses usually lay two or three reptile-like eggs, which are gestated for four weeks in the mother’s womb before being expelled. At birth, the young are hairless, blind and begin to feed on the mother’s milk.
How long a platypus lives
The life expectancy of a platypus is about 11 years in the wild, however, some of these mammals have lived up to 17 years in captivity.
Did you find it interesting? If you want to discover more curiosities of the animal world, we recommend this article where we explain what camels have in the hump.