What animals make up the platypus?

Get to know the mammal that scientists once thought was a hoax. Explore the oddities of this unlikely animal. read more

The platypus is one of the most unusual creatures in the animal kingdom. Platypuses (which is the correct plural form, not"platypi") have a paddle-shaped tail like a beaver; a sleek, furry body like an otter; and a flat bill and webbed feet like a duck. read more

The animal is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record. The first scientists to examine a preserved platypus body (in 1799) judged it a fake, made of several animals sewn together. read more

On top of all the other strange things that make up this patchwork creation is a poison spur that the platypus can use for self-defense or aggression. This spur can easily kill small animals, including rival platypuses for mating, but it can also cause incredibly intense pain to fully grown human beings. read more