Platypus Facts
The platypus is a semiaquatic mammal from eastern Australia that lays eggs, has a duck-like bill and a beaver-like tail, and finds prey with electrical sensing.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Conservation status
- Near threatened (IUCN)
About the platypus
Only five living mammals lay eggs: the platypus and four species of echidna, together called monotremes. The platypus lives in eastern Australia, Tasmania included, and is the last surviving member of its family. Underwater it shuts its eyes, ears and nostrils and tracks prey using electrolocation. Males carry a spur on each back foot that delivers a very painful venom, making the platypus one of the few venomous mammals.
Its odd mix of features puzzled European scientists. In 1799, the first ones to study a preserved body decided it was a fake stitched together from several animals. Hunters once took it for fur, but it has been legally protected since 1912. The IUCN lists it as near threatened, and a November 2020 report urged a move to threatened status.
Did you know?
- The platypus has appeared on Australian stamps and currency.
- Several Aboriginal peoples hold the platypus as culturally important and once hunted it for food.
- Captive breeding programs for the platypus have had only slight success.
Questions about the platypus
Where does the platypus live?
The platypus is found only in eastern Australia, including Tasmania.
Is the platypus endangered?
The IUCN lists it as near threatened. A 2020 report recommended upgrading it to threatened due to habitat loss and declining numbers.
Sources
- Wikidata Q15343, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Platypus, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.