Welcome to my Proto Page! This is the platypus' second home. Here you'll learn all about this amazing mammal: the platypus. What does it look like? See the description page. How does its life run? Cruise over to the life cycle page. What place does the platypus call 'Home Sweet Home'? Visit the habitat and shelter page. Watch out for the platypus' predator on the predator and prey section. Want to know more? Have fun at the fun facts page. Remember: platypus means 'webbed feet'.

It's easy to see why platypuses used to be called monsters.

The platypus looks like no ordinary animal. First of all, it has a black bill that looks like a duck’s bill and a wide tail that looks like a beaver’s tail. If you saw the front of the platypus you might think it’s a duck and if you saw the back you’d be calling it a beaver! Further more, it has webbed feet and a poison spike on the male’s ankle that can really hurt humans and can even kill dogs. The webbed feet on the platypus are like birds’ wings without feathers. Therefore, platypuses have fur and claws. Its light brown fur is nothing like Perry the platypus on Phineas and Ferb, which is blue. In a nutshell, this nutty animal is truly has a weird description.

Those webbed feet look like sharp knives!

As you can see, platypuses look nothing like a cartoon.

Stroll through riverbanks and lakes in eastern Australia to find out the platypus’ life cycle. First, it starts as a small, round, rubbery egg as small as a grape. The female platypus holds the eggs that lay on her belly, wrapped with her tail, waiting for the special day. Later on, when the egg hatches, it turns into a tiny baby that can’t see called a puggle. After four months the young puggle leaves its nest and it is on its own. In the end, male platypuses fight for a mate and female platypuses lay eggs four weeks after mating. She may lay eggs again the next year or she might not. Platypuses usually live 12 years in the wild and more than 20 years in captivity. As you can see, the platypus’ life cycle is fascinating.

Indeed, baby platypuses (puggle) are cute and fits its name (puggle) perfectly.

The platypus peeks out from the water in Australia. First, platypuses are found in eastern Australia. Platypuses are native to Australia, which means they can only be found in Australia. Next, platypuses settle near edges of rivers and lakes. Platypuses settle there because they find food as good as human food under the water. In addition, platypuses dig burrows near rivers and lakes. Platypuses need burrows to nest their babies and to hide from predators. Truly, now you know all about platypuses’ habitat and shelter.

Platypuses' burrows are made of sticks and leaves so it blends in well.

Platypuses live in the eastern side of Australia as this map shows.

Splash! The platypus dives in the water to catch its dinner. First, this carnivore eats small foods that are found in rivers and lakes. Sometimes they find food on land, like worms. Second, all summer and winter platypuses mostly eat caddis fly larvae. The second most popular food in the summer is two-winged fly larvae and in the winter may fly larvae. Last, platypuses are also meals. Their predators include dingoes, foxes, crocodiles, and marsh harriers. Indeed, platypuses prey and predators are interesting.

Dingoes hunt platypuses for their meals.

Platypuses eat caddisfly larvae for their meals.

Platypuses are part of a group of rare mammals called monotreme. Monotremes lay eggs. The only other monotrome is the edchidna.

Platypuses are a combination of bird, reptile, fish, and mammal, but its features are mostly mammal.

The adult male platypus is one of the few mammals that are poisonous and the only poisonous mammal in Australia. The spike on the ankle can cause big pain in humans and can kill dogs.

The platypus' spike on the male is strong enough to kill dogs.