Platypus An Animal Like No Other

Platypus is a small species of semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is one of five species of the order of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other four species of echidna). It is the only surviving species of the family and gender Ornithorhynchidae, Ornithorhynchus although many fragments of fossil species of this family and this kind were discovered.
The odd appearance of this egg-laying mammal, equipped with venomous spines, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, which serves as both a rudder in the water and fat reserves, and legs otter greatly surprised the first explorers who discovered and many European naturalists believed in a joke. This is one of the few venomous mammals: the male has a spur on the hind legs that can release venom capable of inflicting severe pain to a human being. The original features of the Platypus make an issue of major studies to know the evolution of animal species and made it a symbol of Australia: it was used as a mascot for many national events and is listed in reverse side of the coin of 20 centimes (cents) Australian.
Until the early twentieth century it was hunted for its fur, but it is protected at present. Although captive breeding programs have had very limited success and be sensitive to the effects of pollution, the species is not considered threatened.

The lifestyle of the platypus:

The platypus is a predator that lives primarily from hunting freshwater. He is very active at sunrise and sunset. Although hunting in the water it lives in burrows that are usually built on the banks.
In terms of its power, it chooses according to the season. Generally, he eats crayfish, insects and invertebrates baby shellfish that live in fresh water. It also feeds butterflies, cicadas and trout eggs. However the basic diet consisted by insect larvae. What is also exceptional with this animal is that it is able to eat their weight in food in one night.

The defense mode:

Even with its small size, the platypus is a tough opponent because he has a secret weapon capable of overcoming a dog. Only years after the discovery of its kind that has identified the existence of a sting. It is indeed during a hunting party in 1816 scientists released the weapon. This sting is hidden by a fold of skin in the rear leg. An injection causes a rapid threading and paralysis for several days even on an adult human. From there, the platypus has integrated the circle venomous mammals. This venom is very active, because even in small quantity, its toxicity is so powerful it can kill a rabbit or a dog.

Other:

The platypus is a carnivorous animal that needs to consume daily the equivalent in food 20% of its weight, which requires him to spend on average 12 hours per day in the water for this activity. It feeds on worms, insect larvae, freshwater shrimp and crayfish he unearths in the riverbeds with its beak by foraging or by catching swimming. It stores them in his jowls and then eat on the shore.
Although he disappeared from South Australia, the current distribution area of ​​the platypus is generally substantially comparable to that held before the Europeans arrived. In detail, there are however some local changes and especially the fragmentation of its habitat due to changes made by man in the natural environment in which it operates. It is not known by cons very precisely the number of living individuals at present, or future changes in the population over time and if we think that this population has declined in numbers, it is estimated that it is a animal still fairly abundant at present. The species has been widely hunted for its fur until the early twentieth century and was protected in 1905 throughout Australia. It was followed by the disappearance of threat by net fishing in the river until the 1950s does not seem that the platypus is in danger of immediate extinction thanks to protective measures that have been taken but we do not know the long term consequences of habitat fragmentation, creation of dams, irrigation, pollution, trapping. The IUCN classifies the platypus in its list of threatened species as " little concerned ".
The main predators of the platypus are dingoes, goannas, snakes, and rakalis lesrapaces among the native fauna. The indigenous are sometimes hunted for their food, but their meat is not popular. With the arrival of the Europeans who hunted them for their fur appeared new predators such as dogs, foxes and cats.
This should be added mortality related to traffic, illegal net fishing and waste left in nature platypus drowned suffocated in plastic bags or son strangled by fishing nets.