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Are platypuses poisonous?

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You Won't Think the Platypus Is So Cute if You Feel the Excruciating Pain of Its Venom ... A male platypus named Millsom is carried by his keeper at an animal sanctuary in Melbourne, Australia, in 2008. Photo by Mick Tsikas/Reuters ... read more

The platypus is one of the few living mammals to produce venom. Males have a pair of spurs on their hind limbs that secrete venom that is only seasonally active to breeding season, supporting the theory that the use of venom is for competition of mates only, not protection. read more

Male platypuses have a poison apparatus on their hind legs. There are poison glands in the thighs and a hollow spur near the heel. The sting is not dangerous to humans, but is extremely painful and causes rapid swelling in the stung area. read more

Platypuses do not have a poisonous bite, but adult males have venomous spurs on their ankles. Apart from several species of shrews and the Cuban solenodon, platypuses are the only venomous mammals. Male platypuses have a venomous spur on each of their hind legs, through which they can deliver a venom strong enough to kill a small dog, and to cause almost paralysing agony to an adult human. read more

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