Just when I think they cant be any more absurd, the little fuckers surprise me again. Here’s some more interesting facts about the platypus:
- They lay eggs.
- Their closest living relative is the echidna, which also lays eggs. Platypuses and echidnas are the only two living mammals that lay eggs.
- The male has venomous barbs on its hind legs. They are one of the very few venomous mammals. It’s non-lethal, but is one of the most painful stings of any animal. Morphine has no effect on the pain.
- The female has two ovaries, but only the left one is functional.
- They locate their prey in part by detecting tiny electrical signals caused by muscle contractions in the prey’s body.
- Despite possessing mammary glands, they don’t have teats. Instead, they “sweat” it out of the pores in their skin and their young lap it off of their fur.
- They have no stomach.
- They have ten sex chromosomes. A male platypus is always XYXYXYXYXY.
- Their young are born with teeth, but they fall out before they reach adulthood. Adults instead use gravel as makeshift teeth.
- They have cheek pouches to carry their food in.
- They walk on their knuckles.
- They get the most REM sleep of any animal (5.8-8 hours a day).
