The platypus possesses a sixth sense to detect electrical signals in water, a capability we typically associate with aquatic animals like sharks.
When you start exploring the biological mechanisms of the platypus, you will realize that this species holds many fascinating contradictions. The platypus is a mammal but lays eggs, contradicting what we usually think about mammals. When you look at a platypus, you might imagine it as the product of a mad naturalist, combining features of a duck, a beaver, and a lizard.
The platypus is a mammal that lays eggs.
Upon first seeing a platypus, many people often think it is a quirky joke of nature. With its flat duck-like bill, round beaver-like body, webbed feet, and a flat tail reminiscent of a beaver, not to mention the egg-laying trait of a reptile, the platypus truly represents an unusual amalgamation of various animal traits.
The platypus has a body shape and feet ideal for aquatic life, yet its eyes and ears have evolved to adapt completely to land environments. Just like humans struggling to see underwater, the platypus faces difficulties, often rendering it nearly blind and deaf while navigating this environment. Although it hunts underwater, the platypus almost becomes blind and deaf when submerged. It completely shuts its eyes when diving, making the hunting process especially unique.
The platypus has a long, streamlined head without external ears. Instead, it features muscular grooves that close when diving, rendering its sense of smell, sight, and hearing entirely ineffective. Its bill, resembling a duck’s, has a layer of keratinized soft tissue forming new pads that line it. The platypus lacks teeth and has two small nostrils at the tip of its bill, which seal shut when submerged.
So how does the platypus find food when two vital senses are inactive? The answer lies in its special ability akin to that of sharks. Scientists have discovered that the platypus shares several unique genes with sharks, enabling it to hunt even when its eyes and ears are closed.
They are nocturnal animals that spend most of their time hunting underwater.
The platypus primarily inhabits rivers and freshwater lakes in eastern Australia. They are nocturnal animals, spending most of their time hunting underwater. Their diet mainly consists of aquatic insects, worms, and small crustaceans.
The platypus can hold its breath and stay underwater for about 120 seconds on average. When it cannot see underwater, it relies on its bill to act as its “eyes.” The flat bill of the platypus is one of its most characteristic features. The skin covering its bill is soft and contains around 40,000 tiny pores known as electroreceptors and mechanoreceptors. These receptors sense the electrical signals emitted by all living organisms, similar to how sharks locate their prey.
Water enters the sensory cells of the mechanoreceptors and electroreceptors within the pores. Whenever there is a change in the electrical field of the water, triggered by the movement of an organism, the receptors detect this change and send signals to the brain through sensory nerves. There are two types of electroreceptors: one type uses direct current to clear the way, while the other utilizes alternating current to catch prey. The platypus uses mechanical waves to accurately identify its target, then surfaces and continues hunting after gathering all the morsels in its cheeks.
The platypus can “see” through its bill.
The platypus is one of the most researched animal species by scientists. Its existence has challenged many concepts of biological classification and contributed significantly to our understanding of mammalian evolution.
Interestingly, the area of the brain activated by the receptors in its bill is much larger than the area represented by the eyes and ears combined. Thus, the platypus can “see” through its bill, similarly to how primates utilize their visual capabilities. The bill not only helps the platypus detect nearby prey but also aids in attacking and defending. When the sensory cells in the bill are activated, the platypus’s jaw quickly closes to catch its prey.
The platypus’s habitat is severely threatened due to continuous land clearing, leading to diminishing freshwater shelters. Without a freshwater source, the platypus cannot hunt and forage, putting its unique existence at risk.
This is a strange animal with many unique biological features.
Despite being protected, the platypus still faces numerous threats such as habitat loss, water pollution, and climate change. Therefore, safeguarding this unique species is essential.
The platypus is indeed a remarkable animal with many distinctive biological traits. Its ability to hunt by sensing electrical fields and using its bill as a crucial sensory tool has enabled it to survive and thrive in harsh environments. However, protecting the platypus’s habitat is necessary to ensure that it continues to exist in nature.
