Ralph Arvesen

All I want for Christmas... a platypus

• Endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania.
• It is one of the five species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
• Usually lays two eggs that are small (less than an inch long) and leathery.
• The newly hatched young are vulnerable, blind, and hairless.
• The mother's milk is released through pores in the skin.
• It is one of the few venomous mammals. Males have spurs on their hind feet that deliver a poisonous venom that can kill small animals, but not lethal to humans.
• It can cause severe pain to humans (I have only read this, I have been stung by various wasps, scorpions, spiders, plants, ants and other insects, but never by a platypus).
• Like some people, the male takes no part caring for its young.
• On the reverse of the Australian 20-cent coin.
• Excellent swimmer and spends much of its time in the water foraging for food (12 hours a day looking for food).
• Eats worms, insect larvae, freshwater shrimp, and freshwater crayfish.
• Digs food from the riverbed with its snout or catches while swimming and carries the food to the surface to eat.
• Eats about 20% of its own weight each day.