Lizard, duck, beaver venomous animal and in one animal

• The lizard, duck, beaver and poisonous animal in one animal

Australia - a unique world with its unique fauna and platypus is one of its representatives. Mammal with a duck's beak, flat like a beaver tail, webbed feet, which lays eggs and also has a poison that can kill large predator - it is something incredible. According to the laws of evolution, platypus would disappear, replaced by a more advanced mammals, like many of their contemporaries. But thanks to a successful combination of circumstances, namely the isolation of the continent, they are still alive and we can get to know them.

Australia is known to be the continent of unusual marsupial mammals. But there are two types, which differ even from their exotic counterparts. This platypus and echidna - the only mammals on Earth that lay eggs.

Platypus on its evolutionary path as if hesitated between reptiles and marsupial mammals, wondering what is to be. The result is a very interesting kind of animal. The researchers believe that platypus and related extinct species lived in Australia more than 110 million years ago. platypus remains found in South America, which once was a single continent, and Australia and has been inhabited marsupials.

The platypus are hidden lifestyle and active mainly at night. Their lives are inextricably linked with the water in which they find their food, so they live on the banks of the Australian rivers. These animals have a thick dense fur and flat Bobrinev tail covered with hair. Platypus feeds on a variety of aquatic animals and spend a lot of hours in the water, studying the sediments and prey fishing expedition there. Interestingly, the search for platypus production uses electroreceptors unique formations that are characteristic mainly fish and invertebrate aquatic animals. Teeth they have, so they are gaining booty bags for cheeks and ground their jaws on the beach. Platypus - a solitary animals that do not form permanent pair. Each animal lives in its own hole, which, as a rule, is building on the waterfront.

In the spring of the platypus breeding season begins, during which the female digs a special burrow for posterity. Future mother - masterly builders to construct a real tank, which is not afraid of predators, or flash flood. Log in earthen hole closes valve. Platypus males at the same time any part of any building, any further concerns for the offspring do not accept.

After mating, the female platypus, like all birds and most reptiles, lays 2-3 eggs with light shell. As well as other egg-laying animals, the female incubates the eggs. After 10 days on the light there are tiny (length of about 2, 5 cm) utkonosiki. Interestingly, the brood pouch like a kangaroo or a koala, the female platypus does not. Young just lie on your stomach and lick the milk, until they reach the age of 16-17 weeks. After that, they are quite older and accompanied by mothers leaving a hole for the study of the external world. Platypus reach 40-50 centimeters in size (including the tail) and weigh about 2 kilograms.

Interestingly, the platypus have as many as 10 sex chromosomes, responsible for the sex of the baby. And if there are two in humans and most mammals - XY, then the platypus as many as 10. In general, as noted by the researchers, the mechanism of development and sex determination in platypuses more like a similar mechanism in reptiles and birds.

The platypus has another interesting feature: the males have poisonous glands. The venom of the platypus is located on the hind legs, in the femoral glands and is a formidable weapon. But the substance is used mainly against their brethren. During the mating season the males are actively using glands to eliminate competitors. But if necessary, the platypus venom and can defend against predators such as lizard or a dingo.