Platypus are cute, adorable creatures that live in Australia. They are known for their amazing swimming ability, electroreception and venom gland. This article will explore some of the facts and information about them.
Feeding on milk from their mothers
Putting aside the sexy new fad of breastfeeding your baby, the latest research on the human brain suggests a link between a baby’s psyche and its sleep cycle. While the jury is still out on whether or not there’s an association between the two, one would imagine there are many cases where the baby’s snorts are at an all time high.
The study also took an in depth look at the medical records of the participating patients. The good news was that the study did not find any major problems. The study lasted just over four months and produced ninety participants. The study was done on a predominantly Chinese population, which is no doubt an advantage compared to the Western world. The study is still being refined, with results due to be presented at a prestigious conference in late December. The study also takes into account the fact that some mothers may opt to bottle feed their babies. As mentioned earlier, the study took place in China, where the aforementioned sexy new fad is not tolerated.
Swimming gracefully underwater
Platypus is a small semi-aquatic Australian animal. The platypus’s upper body is covered in thick brown fur. Its underside is covered in lighter patches near its eyes. Its fur is waterproof, giving it natural buoyancy while swimming underwater. The platypus is able to stay submerged for up to 14 minutes at a time.
The platypus can swim at a rate of 12 meters per minute. Its body temperature is 32 deC. It has a long tail that adds five inches to its total length. It also has a sac between its oesophagus and intestine. This sac secretes enzymes and powerful digestive acids that break down food.
Platypuses are part of the monotremes family. They are egg-laying mammals. They are venomous and live in freshwater streams and rivers in eastern Australia. They are about two feet long and weigh around four pounds.
When platypus swims, it closes its nostrils, eyes, and ears. It also uses its bill as a navigation tool. Its bill has thousands of receptors that allow it to detect movement. It also has a smooth surface.
Platypuses also use their webbed feet to paddle. The front webbed feet are like big paddles, while the rear feet are partially webbed. They have venomous spurs on the rear feet.
The platypus has a waterproof fur coat that traps air for insulation. The platypus also has a beaver-like tail that extends out behind it. It is also able to retract its webbing on its feet.
Platypuses have a slender body and a flexible bill. They also have hair to keep their skin dry. Their fur is dark brown, with lighter patches near their eyes and ears.
The platypus lives in freshwater streams and rivers. It is a solitary animal. Its burrow entrance is usually hidden in the vegetation at the water’s edge. The platypus eats worms, invertebrates, small aquatic animals, and water mites. It also eats larvae of dragonflies, caddisflies, and damselflies.
Platypuses are semi-aquatic and feed mostly on small aquatic animals. They occasionally eat insects, fish, and frogs. The platypus eats around 15 percent of its body weight each day.
Electroreception
Unlike mammals, platypuses rely on electroreception to find food underwater. These unique creatures hunt by closing their eyes and nose when submerged, a behavior that allows them to detect electrical signals from prey. They use this system to locate prey in murky waters.
To detect electrical signals, platypuses develop electroreceptors on their bill. These electroreceptors are made up of modified mucous glands. The receptors detect the electrical signals of prey and send them to the brain. These electroreceptors are similar to the electroreceptors found in fishes, echidnas, and sharks.
Electroreception is also used by sharks to detect prey. Great White Sharks can react to charges as small as one millionth of a volt in water. Sharks also use electric fields to stun prey. Sharks also use bioelectric fields, which are produced by prey items such as seaweed. Electric fields are useful for communicating with each other and for stun-killing prey.
The platypus bill is packed with tens of thousands of sensory receptors. The receptors are sensitive to pressure, touch, and movement. These receptors detect subtle electric fields, allowing the platypus to detect underwater prey. The receptors also detect the movement of water.
These electroreceptors also allow the platypus to differentiate between different feelings. Its bill is finely orchestrated to pinpoint the exact location of deep sea prey. The bill also acts as a navigational tool, allowing the platypus to move in light-limited environments.
Electroreception is thought to have evolved in early backboned animals. Ancient jawless lampreys and lungfishes were also known to use electroreception. Other species that use electroreception include coelacanths, bizarre chimaerids, and some fish.
Electroreception is also used in benthic feeders, such as Guiana dolphins. These animals hunt for prey hidden in sediment or sediment particles.
Bottlenose dolphins are another odontocete species that has been shown to have electroreception. Bottlenose dolphins respond reliably to weak electric fields. These dolphins also respond to acoustic stimuli. These dolphins may have developed electric sensations through the skin’s vibrissal crypts.
These findings suggest that benthic feeders, such as dolphins, have evolved electroreception to help them find food. Benthic feeders, including Guiana dolphins, also use echolocation to locate prey.
Venom gland
Despite its name, the venom gland of baby platypus is not lethal to humans. However, it does cause intense pain. Its chemicals have been shown to cause edema, swelling, and disruption of wound healing.
Its venom is primarily used for defense against predators, fighting, and mating. Males use it to stir up fights and compete with other males for mates. However, the male platypus doesn’t need to use venom to hunt prey.
During the breeding season, males carry venom glands near their pelvises. They use this venom to attract females and to control their territory. Males can also sting manually to hurt an opponent.
Male platypus venom contains over 80 different toxins. They belong to three major classes of toxins. They include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide-3 (GLP-3). GLP-1 is a peptide that lowers blood sugar. It is more resistant to enzyme degradation than GLP-3.
It has been shown that the venom is toxic to mice. It also causes cutaneous anaphylaxis in rabbits. It is thought that the venom may have an effect on blood pressure. It may also disrupt cell membranes. It is also thought that the venom may be used as a defensive weapon.
It is not known why the venom of baby platypus causes pain. Researchers believe that it may be caused by a complex mixture of proteins. They also believe that the venom causes a high degree of sensitivity to pain. Some people experience cold sweats, hyperventilation, and convulsions after being stung. It also causes a rapid decline in blood oxygen.
The pain caused by a venom sting is so severe that it can be life-threatening. It does not respond to drugs like morphine. However, there are some treatments for the pain induced by venom. These treatments block certain nerve cells from sending signals to the brain. They also block the nerve cells that cause edema and swelling.
Venom is found in many different animal groups, including reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. There are a number of different types of venom, and the venom of baby platypus may be used to treat some types of diabetes.