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 on 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 a beaver. But that’s not all, continue reading this oneHOWTO article to discover what does the platypus eat and where does it live; We assure you that there are more characteristics of this impressive animal that you do not know and they will hallucinate you.
Characteristics of the platypus
The platypus is a mammalian, semi-aquatic and mainly carnivorous animal. So far we could 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 monothems that are the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to young.
But this is not all, this animal has duck beak, beaver tail and otter body, a very unusual mix that makes the platypus a unique and admirable animal. If you also add that it is endowed 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 does the platypus eat
The platypus feeding It consists mainly of algae found at the bottom of rivers, streams and lakes and animals that inhabit them, such as insects, shrimp, earthworms, crustaceans and mollusks. Despite their size, platypus are ravenously hungry and can eat up to 20% of their body weight per day. Like mice and other rodents, the platypus is endowed with small jaw sacs in which it can deposit food to digest later.
Thus, platypus feed on:
- Insects
- Prawns
- Crustaceans
- Mollusks
- Worms
- Algae
When do platypuses eat
The time of day when this animal is most active is at 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 tends to show you less active.
How they locate their prey
It is especially interesting to know that monothems 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 the baby platypus
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, after 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 suitable climatic conditions for its survival, despite the fact that there are different habitats and climates in them. In the case of tasman island the climate is mainly cold in its mountainous areas, while in the tropical rainforests of Queensland these animals are found with higher temperatures. Platypus 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, the platypus live in simple burrows that they build on land, which provides them with security and a place where they can take refuge. At the moment 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 female’s tail with his beak.
After mating is complete, the female initiates construction of a second burrow in the water with a depth of approximately half a meter and dimensions that can reach up to 18 meters that it fills with earth and dead leaves.
How many eggs do platypus lay
Platypuses generally put two or three eggs similar to those of reptiles, 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 does a platypus live
The life expectancy of a platypus is about 11 years in freedomHowever, 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 their hump.
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