How do platypuses move in water and on land?

Answer 1

A platypus swims by paddling with its four feet, and using its thick tail as a rudder. It has retractable webbing on its feet to assist it with speed and for hundreds of dives it must make daily in order to find food. It closes its eyes and ears as it swims, and locates food by electroreceptors in its bill as it forages around on the river or creek floor.

Answer 2

Platypuses do not breathe underwater. They usually hold their breath for one to two minutes while they hunt and feed underwater, and they are capable of staying underwater for up to eight minutes if undisturbed. They must make hundreds of dives every day in order to find enough food, as they cannot live or breathe underwater.

Answer 3

Platypuses travel alone, and they do not venture far from their burrows. When on land, they walk on their four legs, and when hunting in water, they swim very effectively, aided by the retractable webbing on their feet.

Answer 4

The platypus has webbed feet with a retracting webbed membrane which can expose the claws, enabling the platypus to effectively dig burrows. Its claws are used for digging burrows into riverbanks for shelter, and the webbing membrane retracts for that purpose, but spreads between its toes when it needs to swim - which it needs to do to get its food.

Answer 5

The platypus has four legs. When on land, it walks. When in water, it swims. Its feet have retractable webbing between the toes. This means it can swim effectively, but it can also dig on land because the webbing retracts to expose the sharp claws.

Answer 6

Platypuses swim using their webbed feet, and their tail which acts as a rudder.

Answer 7

A platypus swims by paddling with its four feet, and using its

thick tail as a rudder.