Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Chordata > Mammalia > Monotremata > Platypus
The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a 30–40 cm long, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, and one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other four are echidnas). It is the sole extant representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of fossilised relatives have been found, some of them also in the Ornithorhynchus genus.
This egg-laying, duck-billed mammal whose males have a venomous spur on the hind foot, baffled naturalists when it was first discovered. The uniqueness of the Platypus makes it a recognizable symbol of Australia (along with the kangaroo and koala); it is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20-cent coin.
Taxonomy
When the Platypus was first discovered by Europeans in the late 1700s, a pelt was sent back to the United Kingdom and presented for examination by Joseph Banks to the scientific community. The British scientists were at first convinced that the seemingly odd collection of physical attributes must be a hoax, produced by some Asian taxidermist. It was thought that somebody had sewn a duck's beak onto the body of a beaver-like animal. Scientists were also divided over whether the female Platypus laid eggs, until this was later confirmed in Australia. The scientific name Ornithorhynchus is derived from ορνιθόρυγχος ("ornithorhynkhos"), which literally means "bird snout" in Greek, and anatinus means "duck-like". The common name is Latin platypus, derived from the Greek words πλατύς ("platys", flat) and πους ("pous", foot), meaning "flat foot" and was originally given to it as a Linnaean genus name, but it was discovered to already belong to the wood-boring ambrosia beetle (genus Platypus). More on [ Platypus ]
that's it, someone needs to make an HCI/d platypus mascot
ielerol (Lorelei) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:13:45 -0000
that's it, someone needs to make an HCI/d platypus mascot
@rooweenaa; @LyanJonas and I decided that you're dr. Doofensmirtz. She's Peter Panda and I'm Perry the Platypus. ILOVEU
deezJonas (Désirée Peters) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:55:05 -0000
@rooweenaa; @LyanJonas and I decided that you're dr. Doofensmirtz. She's Peter Panda and I'm Perry the Platypus. ILOVEU
May a Misguided Platypus lay its Eggs in your Jockey Shorts
webgeekcom (web-geek.com) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:40:13 -0000
May a Misguided Platypus lay its Eggs in your Jockey Shorts
ãµã³ãªãªã§ã¯ãã¦ãªãã®ã¯ãªãã±ã¼ãªã®ããwRT @tukikage2 ãããæ°ã«ãªãããRT @meronpan315: @platypus26 ãµã³ãªãªãæ¬æ°åºãã¦ãããï¼http://www.with-kitty.com/goods/ ãããã¤ãã¼ããã
izumo707 (ãã ã) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:26:41 -0000
サンリオではいてないのはオッケーなのかねwRT @tukikage2 こりゃ気になるわ。RT @meronpan315: @platypus26 サンリオが本気出してきた。：http://www.with-kitty.com/goods/ こ、こつえーさぁん
perry the platypus. You're a bitch if you won't reply NOW.
M_ISABEL93 (Isabel Rendon Gomez) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:21:22 -0000
perry the platypus. You're a bitch if you won't reply NOW.
UGH LIKE SHIT sry for goin on ur fam RT @KPLuciano @TextuallyActif I gotta cousin who looks just like a platypus!!! Real Talk!!!
textuallyactif (Billie O.) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:01:33 -0000
UGH LIKE SHIT sry for goin on ur fam RT @KPLuciano @TextuallyActif I gotta cousin who looks just like a platypus!!! Real Talk!!!
Australian Platypus Conservancy - Information about the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), research, its conservation and protection, and platypus-spotting opportunities. Also offers merchandise for sale.
Meta Description: [ Report Sightings of Platypus around Australia ]
Duck-Billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) - Duck-Billed Platypus facts, photos and message board.
Meta Description: [ Duck-Billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) facts, photos and videos. ]
Platypus Tropical Research - Information, field research trips, first platypus research project in Tropical North Queensland.
Rainforest Platypus - Rainforest Platypus, photos and text. Courtesy of Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge, Atherton Tableland, Far North Queensland, Australia
Meta Description: [ Rainforest Platypus, photos and text. Courtesy of Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge, Atherton Tableland, Far North Queensland, Australia ]
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Sleep of the Platypus - Article by Henry Gee about the sleeping patterns of the platypus as compared with other mammals.
What is a Platypus? - Etymology and a reading list.
Meta Description: [ What is a Platypus? and other Quandaries: ETYMOLOGY: duck-bill, platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, platipus, platapus, monotreme, bibliography, etymology ]
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