PLURAL OF PLATYPUS SKIN
PLURAL OF PLATYPUS PATCH

In humans, the pain from a platypus sting can be treated with nerve blockers, which block specific nerve cells from sending signals to the brain. This venom is not lethal to platypuses or humans, but it causes swelling and excruciating pain, and it can disrupt wound healing and the function of cell membranes, she noted. The venom itself contains a cocktail of more than a dozen proteins that belong to three major classes of toxins, op den Brouw wrote. To inject its venom, a male wraps its legs around its victim and drives the spurs through the animal's flesh, according to op den Brouw. The venom glands of adult males fluctuate in size throughout the year, reaching their maximum size during breeding season, when males use their venom to compete for mates. Young females also have these spurs, but they lose them in the first year of life. Male platypuses carry venom glands, located near their pelvises, that connect to hollow spurs on their hind legs, according to a blog written by Bianca op den Brouw, (opens in new tab) a toxinologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

PLURAL OF PLATYPUS SKIN

The skin of the bill holds tens of thousands of sensory receptors that help the platypus navigate underwater and detect movement of potential food, such as shrimp, according to the Australian Platypus Conservatory. The bill of a platypus resembles that of a duck and has a smooth texture that feels like suede. The animals walk on their knuckles to protect the webbing, according to a 2001 report in the Journal of Experimental Biology (opens in new tab). When platypuses are on land, their webbing retracts, making the claws more pronounced, according to National Geographic (opens in new tab).

Scientists are still investigating this question.Ī platypus's front feet have extra skin that acts like a paddle when the animal is swimming. It's possible that this biofluorescence helps reduce the animals' visibility to predators, but the eerie glow may serve little or no ecological function. Under ultraviolet light, however, platypuses' drab brown fur glows green and blue, Live Science previously reported (opens in new tab).

PLURAL OF PLATYPUS PATCH

Most of the fur is dark brown, except for a patch of lighter fur near each eye and lighter-colored fur on the underside. Platypuses have dense, thick fur that helps them stay warm underwater.

Plural of platypus