Interesting and Unbelievable Facts

Platypus, or duck-billed platypus, is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal. It is endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania. Platypus is one of the five living species of monotremes (egg-laying mammals). The other four species belong to echidnas . It is one of two monotremes (alongside short-beaked echidnas) in Australia. Platypus is one of the three mammals (alongside echidnas and the Guiana dolphin) that use electroreception for hunting. These monotremes close their eyes, nose, and ears while diving and use three receptor cells in their bills to detect prey (mollusks, worms, etc.). Their bills contain push-rod mechanoreceptors and two types of electroreceptors to locate the direction and distance of prey. Compared to 2,000 or fewer electroreceptor cells in echidnas, there are 40,000 such cells in platypi. ( Source ) Male platypuses contain venom in their spurs, present on the heels of both rear feet. They use this venom against prey and also against other platypuses during the mating sea