Platypus

The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one of Australia’s most unique and fascinating native animals, known for its distinctive blend of features from mammals, birds, and reptiles. Native to freshwater rivers and streams in eastern Australia and Tasmania, the platypus has a flat, duck-like bill, webbed feet, a beaver-like tail, and dense waterproof fur. It is one of only five extant species of monotremes—egg-laying mammals—and uses electroreception through its bill to locate prey underwater. Nocturnal and semi-aquatic, platypuses feed on insects, worms, and small aquatic creatures. Males have venomous spurs on their hind legs, a rare trait among mammals. Elusive and shy in the wild, the platypus remains a symbol of Australia’s rich biodiversity and evolutionary wonder.