Adaptions

= = = = =Anatomy:=

Physical Description:
 

Outside:
The Duck-Billed Platypus is unique among mammals, in that they have the ability of egg laying. They have fur ranging from medium brown to dark brown on the dorsal side(top) and brown to silver-gray on the ventral side(sides). They have bills that closely resemble those of ducks. Two nostrils are located on top of their bills and their eyes and ears are on either side of their heads.They also have flat and broad tails resembling those of beavers.They have short limbs, naked soles, webbed forefeet and partially-webbed hind feet. Each foot contains five digits each consisting of a broad nail for the forefeet and sharp claws for the hind feet. Males are generally larger than females, and have two venom glands attached to spurs on their hind legs. Females have mammary glands but no nipples. The young have milk teeth while the adults have grinding plates. The young are smaller than adults in size. There is a significant reduction in body fat after winter for both young and adults.

Inside:
The internal structure of a Duck-Billed Platypus is similar to those of humans. It consists of the same digestive system and very similar to the muscular system. Males also have a venom gland connecting to their hind leg spurs. The platypus comes up to the surface two to three minutes.

**Size**

 * Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: **
 * || //**Male**// || //**Female**// ||
 * **Total length** || 45.0 - 60.0 cm, average 50.0cm || 39.0 - 55.0 cm, average 43.0cm ||
 * **Tail length** || 10.5 - 15.2 cm, average 12.5cm || 8.5 - 13.0 cm, average 11.2cm ||
 * **Bill length** || 4.9 - 7.0 cm, average 5.8cm || 4.5 - 5.9 cm, average 5.2cm ||
 * **Weight** || 1.0 - 2.4 kg, average 1.7kg || 0.7 - 1.6 kg, average 0.9kg ||

Baby

Adult

Movement:
The platypus has a unique movement structure. It has a beaver tail and webbed feet to make it easier to swim in the water. Their limbs are small and close to the body to be more aerodynamic. They see in water by sensing electric currents created by their preys muscle movement. It moves to shore for air, to mate and sleep.