Platypus | Isn't it (not) a mammal ?

An animal with beak, webbed feet and which lays eggs but gives milk to it's babies !

Platypus are mammals with duct like bills, webbed feet, lay eggs and give milk to their young. They are now classified as Monotremes (egg - laying mammals), a group of mammals with only 2 extant animals, Platypus and Echidnas. These animals share lot of their DNA with birds. They also venom with similar compounds found in the reptiles. They live in water most of the time and sometimes though rarely are seen on land. 

Their bills are Mechano - receptive. They detect changes of in touch, pressure and temperature of water with the help of their beak and can locate their prey without seeing. Their beak is covered completely by push rod cells. These cells are triggered by changes in surroundings and signals the brain. It's bill is so sensitive that it closes it's eyes while hunting. They have 30,000 Mechano receptor glands present on the underside and as well as the upper side of the bill in a beautiful pattern.

Besides these platypus can also detect electric signals given off by other animals. All animals give of energy in the form of electric signals through their body (as a consequence of creating action potential in the body). They detect these electric fields of different animals through 70,000 glands in their bill.

The conductive gel conducts electricity, which flow through it reaching the cilia of the receptive cells full of nerve endings, which signal to the brain.

On the under side of it's hind legs, they have spikes called "spur", from which platypus access their poison. Though there is no footage of it's use ever till now, it could be used for defending territories from other competitors or even platypuses. 

These animals are extremely adaptive, only one of two living animals of Monotremes. They are well- suited to their environment than just a funny looking duck.

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J. Maanavendra roy,
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