The
platypus (
Ornithorhynchus anatinus), sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including
Tasmania. It is the sole living representative of the family
Ornithorhynchidae and, together with the four species of
echidna, it is one of the five extant species of
monotreme – mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like other monotremes, the platypus senses prey in cloudy water through
electrolocation. The male platypus has a
spur on the hind foot that delivers
an extremely painful venom, making it one of the few species of venomous mammals. This platypus was photographed swimming in a creek near
Scottsdale in Tasmania.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
_Scottsdale.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg)
