WHERE ANIMALS ARE ROYALTY

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Animal Expedition-2

HI!!!!!!! So glad to see you after my search for platypuses! Here's my result:

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.
The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and a recognisable and iconic symbol of Australia; it has appeared as a mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin. The platypus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales.[3]
Until the early 20th century it was hunted for its fur, but it is now protected throughout its range. Although captive breeding programmes have had only limited success and the platypus is vulnerable to the effects of pollution, it is not under any immediate threat.

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Platypus[1]
Temporal range: 66–0 Ma Late Cretaceous to Recent
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Family: Ornithorhynchidae
Genus: Ornithorhynchus
Blumenbach, 1800
Species: O. anatinus
Binomial name
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
(Shaw, 1799)
Platypus range
(blue — native, red — introduced)


A colour print of platypuses from 1863
 
The calcaneus spur found on the male's hind limb is used to deliver venom.

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
The platypus is very difficult to spot even on the surface of a river.
 
Platypus swimming
Ornithorhynchus anatinus -Sydney Aquarium, Sydney, Australia -swimming-6a.ogv
Swimming underwater at Sydney Aquarium, Australia
 
 

Platypus Skeleton



Platypus


Echidnas


 live birth 

Marsupials

 true placenta  Eutherians



Evolutionary relationships between the platypus and other mammals.[56]
A depiction of a platypus from a book for children published in Germany in 1798


Platypus House at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland

The Australian 20 cent coin features a platypus
 
Done? I didn't put all the mumbo jumbo I usually put cause it's hard for ya to read!

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