By Jayrel Tye
The platypus is a fuzzy, dark-billed egg-laying mammal, but in reality, it can be pretty vicious.
For example, the male platypus has venomous barbed hooks on its rear feet. If anyone happens to get speared by it, he or she will have to yank it out although the pain may be so intense that not even its own kind cannot stand it.
Classification: The platypus is a rare mammal that does not give birth but lay eggs to produce its offspring. It can live up to 17 years.
Geographical Spread: The platypus can only be seen in Australia from the steamy tropics of far north Queensland to the freezing snows of Tasmania. In north Queensland, it lives close to the coast, while most of the platypuses live in the rivers east of the Great Dividing Range. They can also be found in some western-flowing streams.
Habitat: The platypus makes its home in fresh water creeks, calm, slow moving rivers, and build water storages. When it swims, it closes its eyes, ears and nose.
Diet: Its diet is mainly the insects, larvae, shellfish and worms. It also uses gravel to make its food easy to munch. Unused food energy sources are stored as fats in its tail.
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