- This unique animal is a nocturnal, half-aquatic primitive egg-laying mammal
- The Platypus has a paddle-shaped tail like a beaver; a sleek, furry body like an otter; and a flat bill and webbed feet like a duck
- The body and the broad, flat tail of the platypus are covered with dense brown fur that traps a layer of insulating air to keep the animal warm
- The platypus uses its tail for storage of fat reserves
- Males have a spur on the back of their hind feet that are connected to a venom-secreting gland. This makes the Platypus among the few venomous mammals
- A typical platypus is between 30-60 cm (12-24 in.) in length and weighs 1-2 kg (2-4 lbs.)
- The Platypus lives in the freshwater areas throughout the island of Tasmania and the eastern and southeastern coast of Australia
- The platypus is generally regarded as nocturnal and crepuscular, but individuals are also active during the day, particularly when the sky is overcast
- The bill, which is actually a soft, leathery snout, has an electro-receptors that pick up on the small electrical signals sent by animals when they move
- Much of the diet includes adult and larval invertebrates such as worms, yabbies, and insect larvae
- Platypuses have been heard to emit a low growl when disturbed
