![]() Platypus live in the freshwater rivers of eastern Australia and Tasmania. To many peoples surprise platypus are not very big, many are smaller than the average domestic cat! Their bill is one of their most fascinating features, helping them navigate through the water and successfully hunt. Additionally, their webbed feet help to propel them through the water, allowing them to swim with ease. They have beaver-like tails used to store fat to help them dive easier. Its thick fur is waterproof and protects the animal during extreme winters. The platypus is a mishmash of other animals, but each of its features serves a purpose. ![]() ![]() However, Ornithorhynchus is nowhere near as easy to say, so the name platypus stuck and is still used today! The name platypus is almost as baffling as their appearance, so how did this word come about? Well, technically, scientifically, it isn’t anymore… The public just really liked it! Originally the animals scientific name was Platypus anatinus, meaning flat-footed and birdlike, however, it was realised that a beetle had already been assigned the genus ‘platypus.’ Naturally, there couldn’t be two animals named platypus, so the animal was renamed as Ornithorhynchus anatinus. It’s the creature so weird that scientists didn’t believe it was real! With the body and fur of an otter, the tail of a beaver, and the webbed feet and bill of a duck, it’s no wonder scientists were sceptical when they first saw a platypus! These funky Aussie animals are one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world and have earnt a reputation for their interesting appearance. What is a Platypus? These incredibly unique Aussie creatures are unlike anything else you’ve ever seen!!
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