T HE D UCK -B ILLED P LATYPUS By Melanie Hoaglund

C LASSIFICATION I NFORMATION Common Name – Duck-Billed Platypus Scientific Name – Ornithorhynchus Anatinus Kingdom Name – Animalia Phylum Name – Chordata Class Name – Mammalia

C OMMON C HARACTERISTICS Symmetry – bilateral Shows segmentation Body Cavity Psuedeocoelomate The platypuses genome is a mixture of reptile-like and mammal-like features. The group of animals called monotremes, is thought to have split from other mammals at least 166 million years ago. That early divergence means platypus genes carry information from a transitional point on the evolutionary time line leading from reptiles to mammals. Type of Organism: Free living Carnivore Aquatic

L IFE C YCLE /R EPRODUCTION The duck billed platypus is one of the three mammal species that lay eggs to reproduce. The female usually lays two eggs and curls around them to protect them for about ten days. She makes burrows to raise and protect her young. Sexual Reproduction – The female lays eggs Female lays eggs, then after birth, the young live on milk provided by the mother. Glands along the side of the mother secrete milk and the young platypus will lap it up. After six weeks the young have fur and may leave the nest for short periods. They stop receiving milk by five months old. Average Life Span – Up to 12 years in the wild, and up to 22 years in captivity. Offspring – 2 Breed once each year

D ESCRIPTION OF H ABITAT The organism lives in the eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. It lives in fresh-water lakes and streams there. Out of the water, they live in burrows that can be up to thirty meters long. Platypuses usually eat freshwater invertebrates such as shrimps, worms, and immature and adult aquatic insects (including dragonflies, aquatic beetles, and water bugs). Small frogs and fish are eaten occasionally.

N OTABLE C HARACTERISTICS Conservation Hunted to near-extinction during 1800s for its fur Protected during the 20 th century Key Behavior The duck-billed platypus is a mammal that lays eggs to reproduce Males are venomous and kill some small animals for self-defense Physical Characteristics Beaver-like tail Elongated snout, that of a duck bill Webbed, flat feet

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