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The '''platypus''' is an aquatic [[mammal]], one of only five monotremes - mammal species which lays eggs as opposed to a live birth.<ref>↑ The other four are types of echidnas which are also native to [[Australia]].</ref> Its natural range is in eastern [[Australia]] and [[Tasmania]]. It has a bill, similar in shape to a [[duck]], which is very pliable, and also has webbed feet. Like all mammals it has fur and suckles its young. The platypus can find its prey in water due to its ability to detect electric fields produced by muscular contractions. The male platypus has has a spur on its hindfoot which can deliver venom - a feature which very few mammals possess. It has no visible ears.
{{Taxonomy
|name=Platypus
|image=
|caption=
|domain=Eukaryota
|kingdom=Animalia
|subkingdom=Bilateria
|branch=Deuterostomia
|superphylum=
|phylum=Chordata
|subphylum=Vertebrata
|infraphylum=Gnathostomata
|microphylum=
|superdivision=
|division=
|subdivision=
|superclass=Tetrapoda
|class=Mammalia
|subclass=Prototheria
|infraclass=
|superorder=
|order=Monotremata
|suborder=
|infraorder=
|superfamily=
|families=
|family=Ornithorhynchidae
|subfamily=
|supertribe=
|tribe=
|subtribe=
|genera=
|genus=Ornithorhynchus
|subgenus=
|species=O. anatinus
|binomialname=
|syn=
|sub=
|alt=
|regionimg=
|pop=
|conservation=Least concern<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40488/0</ref>
}}
The '''platypus''' (''Ornithorhynchus anatinus'') is an aquatic [[mammal]], one of only five monotremes - mammal species which lays eggs as opposed to a live birth.<ref>↑ The other four are types of echidnas which are also native to [[Australia]].</ref> Its natural range is in eastern [[Australia]] and [[Tasmania]]. It has a bill, similar in shape to a [[duck]], which is very pliable, and also has webbed feet. Like all mammals it has fur and suckles its young. The platypus can find its prey in water due to its ability to detect electric fields produced by muscular contractions. The male platypus has has a spur on its hindfoot which can deliver venom - a feature which very few mammals possess. It has no visible ears.
An excellent swimmer, the platypus spends much of its time foraging for [[food]] in water. It swims with an alternating left-to-right paddling of its front feet. Despite all four of its feet being webbed, its hindfeet remain held against its body, instead being used for steering (along with its tail) rather than propulsion.
An excellent swimmer, the platypus spends much of its time foraging for [[food]] in water. It swims with an alternating left-to-right paddling of its front feet. Despite all four of its feet being webbed, its hindfeet remain held against its body, instead being used for steering (along with its tail) rather than propulsion.
The strangeness of this [[animal]] is sometimes used as evidence that [[God]] did have a good sense of [[humor]]. The anatomy of the platypus is a problem for evolutionists, because its bill clearly adheres to the same design as that of the duck, suggesting a common creator.
The strangeness of this [[animal]] is sometimes used as evidence that [[God]] did have a good sense of [[humor]]. The anatomy of the platypus is a problem for evolutionists, because its bill clearly adheres to the same design as that of the duck, suggesting a common creator.
==Threats==
The platypus is currently listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List of endangered species<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40488/0</ref>; however, the actual number of living individuals in the wild is unknown. The species is dependent on slow-moving streams and shallow-water lakes and ponds, areas which have been disrupted by tropical cyclones over there northern range. In addition, man has made inroads into their habitat and altering areas via poor land management, such as excess sedimentation from farm run-off and forestry. Traps meant for fish have also drowned platypus, which has the adverse impact of affecting small populations of these animals in critical areas.
Apart from man, the chief predator is the introduced [[red fox]] (''Vulpes vulpes''), which scavenges unattended nesting holes for eggs.
== Notes ==
== Notes ==
*[http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/platypus/ The Duck-Billed Platypus]
*[http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/platypus/ The Duck-Billed Platypus]
[[Category:Monotreme]]
[[Category:Mammals]][[Category:Monotreme]]