Perry the Platypus – What is a Platypus?

Less than 7 weeks old

If you have ever watched Phineas and Ferb, then you have also seen Perry the Platypus, who also goes by the name of Agent P.  But what exactly is a platypus?

Perry the platypus is known as an Ornithorhynchus anatinus, or a semiaquatic mammal. The platypus can be found in eastern Australia and Tasmania. They dwell in rivers and streams. Platypuses make their homes in burrows in the side of water banks. They can live for as long as 12 years.

Where they live:
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THE BODY OF A PLATYPUS

A platypus is a wide range of animals seemingly stitched together. A bill and webbed feet (duck); a broad short flat tail (beaver); and a body (20in) with water proof fur (otter).  A platypus’s bill has electroreceptors to help find food underwater. A skin fold covers a platypuses eyes and ears and their nose seals shut when they are submerged down underwater. They also have webbed feet that can retract to expose individual nails so that they can run on land. Their tail, which is 5-7 inches, helps to propel them through the water and can help aid in making their homes and burrows.

PLATYPII AND THEIR FOOD

Platypuses are bottom feeders, feeding on insects, larvae, worms and other such things.  Food is stored in pouches located behind their bill. They store food and bits of gravel in these pouches until they can get to the surface. Platypuses don’t have teeth, so they use the gravel to help them “chew” their food. Platypuses are able to stay under water for 2-3 minutes when swimming. However when they are at rest under water they can spend up to 10 minutes underwater.

REPRODUCTION AND THE OFFSPRING

Platypuses are one of the few mammals that can lay eggs. They mate once a year between the months of June and October. Females make separate burrows in the side of river banks for nesting. After being in the female for 28 days, 1-2 eggs are lain that will take 10 days to hatch.  Once hatched, the baby platypuses are about the size of a lima bean. They will nurse for 3-4 months or until they learn how to swim on their own.  On average, platypuses can live to 12 years. Even so, due to threats in their natural habitats, (such as snakes, goannas, rats and foxes) they usually live to be only 4-8 years old.

PLATYPII ARE POISONIOUS!

A surprising thing about the platypus is that it’s venomous! At birth both male and female have spurs but females shed theirs at 3 months. So only the male  platypus is venomous. There are spurs on the heels of their hind legs that are connected to venomous sacs.  Scientists have observed the venom spurs are only out during mating seasons and aggressive encounters (usually with other platypus males). The venom is strong enough to kill a small dog or bring excruciation pain to a human.

Documentary on the Platypus:

Why do you think platypuses are able to run on land if their food is in the water?

What is the reason why they are only in eastern Australia and Tasmania?

What could have the director added to make Perry more of a platypus?

3 thoughts on “Perry the Platypus – What is a Platypus?

  1. Platypuses live in Australia and Tasmania because in those areas there is a lot of fresh water. The platypuses need that fresh water to survive because they are semiaquatic. Because they are semiaquatic that mean that they need both water and land to survive. They spend a big chunk of time in river banks and in creeks by the river. They are also semiaquatic because there food in the water and they have to come out of the water for air since they don’t have gills like fish to breathe underwater. This blog was really good I found a bunch of information about platypus that I didn’t know already.

    http://australianmuseum.net.au/Platypus

  2. Platypuses are only semiaquatic animals which means they are both water and land animals. They can also search for food on the land like worms they like to eat. They also need to come up for air every 2 minutes so they can just be looking for some food to eat while their up there! I do believe platypuses are able to run on land for their food because they may not be able to find all of there food that is needed in the water.
    http://www.livescience.com/27572-platypus.html

  3. The one thing they left out of the common show Phineas and Ferb is that platypuses have large spikes on their heel. The spikes are actually venomous. That is crazy. Research shows that it is used mostly for fighting off other males during mating. If that was on the show how cool would agent P be then. This blog was very use full information and I appreciated all the nice info you put into this blog thank you. http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/platypus-poison1.htm

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