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To some, platypuses may be considered to be unusual because they are unique to Australia and one of only two types of mammals to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. (The other type is the echidna.)
The platypus's appearance is also unusual - it has a flat, broad bill; a sleek and streamlined body; a short, thick tail; the male has a venomous spur, and its feet have retractable webbing. It uses its sensitive bill which is equipped with electroreceptors to find food underwater.
There are many animals equally strange, and Australians do not regard the platypus as strange at all. To some, platypuses may be considered to be strange because they are unique to Australia and one of only two types of mammals to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. (The other type is the echidna.) The platypus's appearance is also unusual - it has a bill which some liken to that of a duck, although it is very different, a sleek and streamlined otter-like body, a short, thick tail like a beaver, the male has a venomous spur, and its feet are webbed. It uses its sensitive bill which is equipped with electroreceptors to find food underwater.
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What is a unusual looking animal?
Marsupials are very unusual. Platypus too.
What is an unusual monotreme?
Both types of monotremes - the platypus and the echidna - are unusual, but perhaps the platypus is considered the most unusual of all. The platypus has a bill equipped with electroreceptors which it uses to find its food. It must live on land but find its food in the water. It has retractable webbing on its feet so that it can still use its sharp claws to dig.
What unusual markings does the platypus have?
The platypus has no unique or unusual markings. A platypus has dark brown fur over most of its body, with a grey undercoat. Its belly is gold-coloured or silky grey. Its feet are dark brown to black, and its bill is a slate grey colour.
What is a simile for platypus?
A simile for a platypus could be "as unique as a platypus in a pond." This simile highlights the distinctive nature of the platypus as an unusual and fascinating animal that stands out in its environment. It draws a comparison between the platypus and something equally rare or extraordinary.
Why are the platypus and echidna unusual?
The platypus and echidna are unusual because they are the world's only known monotremes, which means they are egg-laying mammals. Though egg-layers, they are classified as mammals because the young suckle mothers' milk.
Why are platypuses ornithorhynchidae?
The scientific name of the platypus is Ornithorhynchus anatinus. The 'Ornithorhynchus' part means "bird-like snout". This is in reference to the platypus's unusual bill.
What characteristic of the platypus and echidna is very unusual among animals?
They are egg-laying mammals.
What method of classification would you use for the platypus. Natural or artificial?
Natural yet unusual
Why are the platypus and echidna unusual mammals?
The platypus and echidna are unusual mammals because they are the world's only known monotremes, i.e. egg-laying mammals. Though egg-layers, they are classified as mammals because the young suckle mothers' milk.
How do you describe a platypus's head?
The platypus has a dark brown head with two small eyes. It is unusual because its mouth is a bill. Although many believe the platypus's bill to resemble a duck's bill, it is in fact quite different. The platypus's bill is broader and flatter than a duck's bill.
Why is the echidna unusual among mammals in the way its baby is produced?
The echidna, like the platypus, is unusual because it lays eggs, rather than producing live young.
Why is a platypus thought to be a bird?
The platypus is not thought to be a bird. It is known to be a mammal. It shares all mammalian characteristics except for the fact that it does not give live birth.It is unusual for being an egg-laying mammal, in the group of animals known as monotremes. It is also considered unusual for its bill, which is actually quite different in size, shape and function to a duck's bill (the term "duck-billed platypus is a misnomer).
