Platypus

 __ Info: __ The platypus is the only mammal that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live babies. The male Platypus has a spur on his hind foot that delivers venom capable of causing serious pain to people. The platypus has a flat tail, that is covered with brown fur that keeps the animal warm. The Platypus uses its tail for storage of fat reserves. It has webbed feet and a large, rubbery snout. The webbing is more significant on the front feet and is folded back when walking on land. The eyes and ears are located in a groove set just back from it; this groove is closed when swimming. Platypuses have been heard to have a low growl when disturbed.__ The Four Characteristics: ** Behaviour: ** __ The platypus is shy animal. It's a nocturnal creature and mostly leaves its burrow in the early morning and evening. The platypus sleeps in a burrow for up to 17 hours a day. An adult platypus uses its long claws to dig through the soft river banks. A platypus can dig one meter of tunnel in two hours. Grooming their fur is very important and is done in the water and on the land. The platypus uses its sensitive bill to locate its food in the water.The platypus is able of making noises. These noises have been compared to a growling puppy. __** Reproduction: **__  Platypus males are larger than females. Mating occurs once a year, beginning in late June in the warmer northern parts and in October in the southern part. The female usually lays two eggs, but may lay up to four, for about two weeks in a blocked-off nest at the end of a long breeding burrow. The "puggle" (a puggle is a baby platypus, people have no offical name for the baby platypus so some people call it a puggle) has no fur when it hatches.  __**Grow and Develop:**__ 1.The male platypus's body is about 50-60 centimeters long. 2.The female is about 40-50 centimeters long. 3.An adult platypus weighs on average between 1 to 2.4 kilograms. 4.They can live for 12 years.

__**Respond:**__ The platypus communicates by a variety of noises, for example they make a low/soft growl when disturbed. The noises they make usually sound like a growling puppy.

-A Platypus spends an average of 12 hours every day searching for food. -A Platypus is a carnivore. Its diet is mostly shrimp, crayfish, snails, earthworms, mealworms, mayflies, dragonflies, mussels, trout eggs, tadpoles, small frogs, and fish. -It can stick its bill into the sand and sense another creature.
 * __Food:__**

__**Facts About Their Diet:**__ -The Platypus does not used its bill to eat. Its mouth is located under the bill. -The average Platypus eats 20% of it's body weight every day. **__ Made up of One or More Cells: __** 1. Fur cells 2. Eye calls 3. Nail cells 4. Bone cells 5. Beak/Bill cells 6. Blood cells 7. Bone cells 8. Brain cells __**Facts: **__ 1. It swims with it's eyes closed. 2. The platypus can stay under water for up to 10 minutes before going up to the surface for oxygen. 3. The male platypus has venom strong enough to kill a small dog. 4. Has three layers of thick fur. 5. Their tail is about 12 centimeters long.

Classification:
 * Kingdom** - Animalia (animals- Means: comprising all living or extinct animals)
 * Phylum** - Chordata (vertebrates- Means: has a spinal cord)
 * Class** - Mammalia (mammals- Means: warm blooded)
 * Order** - Monotremata (monotremes- Means: it lays eggs)
 * Family** - Ornithorhynchidae ( platypuses- Means: one of the two extant families, and contains the Platypus and its extinct relatives )
 * Genus** - Ornithorhynchus (modern platypus)
 * Species** - anatinus
 * Scientific name** = //Ornithorhynchus anatinus//

__Features:__ Duck Bill- To find food under water. Webbed Feet- To be easy to swim in/under water. Flat Tail- Also helps it swim. Brown Fur- To be camoflauged in the water, and to keep warm. Poisonous Claw (only male platypuses)- To keep safe from enemies. Gold or Silky Grey Belly- Probably to make the creatures under them think that they are the sun.

These features helps the platypus survive because the fur kept it warm. It also has a flat tail and webbed feet to help it swim. The bill helps the platypus find food under water, because it is "electro sensetive". Another thing is that the males poisonous claw helps it keep safe from any enemies around. The platypuses feet only web out in the water to help it swim. When its on land it doesn't have webbed feet/claws because it's toes goes together but in the water the toes/claws spred out like a ducks, but ducks have webbed feet on and off land.

__ PICTURES!!! __ <-Two baby platypuses. <-A baby platypus.<-cute