10 FASCINATING PLATYPUS FACTS THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU

The platypus is one of Australia’s most unique and mysterious mammals. From its duck-like bill to its ability to glow under UV light, this egg-laying creature continues to amaze scientists and nature lovers alike. Here are ten fascinating facts that reveal why the platypus deserves our attention and protection.

Fast Facts

• Platypuses are egg-laying mammals with venomous spurs.
• They glow under UV light.
• Found only in eastern Australia, they’re threatened by habitat loss.
• Learn 10 fascinating facts below.

Here are ten things you might not know about the platypus.

1. Platypuses are venomous.

They might look cute and cuddly but come across a male platypus in mating season and you’ll be in for a painful shock. Male platypuses have a hollow spur on each hind leg connected to a venom secreting gland, and while their venom is lethal, there are no recorded deaths from platypus stings.

Scientists suggest competing male platypus likely use their spurs during territorial fights, and it’s one of the few venomous traits found in mammals.

2. What’s the correct plural of platypus?

The plural of platypus is... platypus? The common name of the species comes from the Greek platys, meaning flat, and pous, meaning foot. If we were to follow the Greek plural rules, the plural of platypus should be platypodes; however, the term has never really become mainstream. In several dictionaries, the accepted plural is ‘platypuses’ or ‘platypus’ when used in certain scientific and conservation contexts.

What do you think the plural of platypus should be? Let us know on our social channels!

3. Platypuses use electroreception to hunt underwater

They give sharks a run for their money – at least as far as electroreception is concerned. Like a shark, the platypus uses electronic impulses to detect underwater prey and locate objects in the darkest depths of the creeks and rivers they call home. They feed on insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, worms and yabbies, which they bring to the surface to eat.

4. Platypuses are egg-laying mammals (monotremes)

Despite being a mammal, platypuses lay eggs – making them a monotreme. They’re one of only five monotreme species left in existence.

5. Platypuses have waterproof fur and spend hours underwater

They’re over-dressers. With two layers of fur – for insulation and waterproofing, platypuses use their fur to trap a layer of air next to their skin so they can remain buoyant and dry when they’re underwater, which they are a lot. The platypus spends about 12 hours every day underwater looking for food.

6. Platypuses glow under UV light – but scientists don’t know why

No one knows why, but when these small brown creatures are put under UV lights, they give off a biofluorescent blue-green glow. Which is strange, but even stranger are the people who keep putting them under UV lights.

Discovered in 2020, this trait is still not fully understood. Some researchers suggest it may help platypuses camouflage in moonlit environments, while others believe it could be a vestigial trait from ancient ancestors.

7. Baby platypuses are called puggles – and they’re adorable

Baby platypus are often called 'puggles'. Could they get any cuter? Platypus puggles don’t stay puggles for long, though. They typically leave their nesting burrows after four months, after which they are referred to as juvenile platypus.

8. Platypus populations are declining due to habitat loss

Prolonged droughts, bushfires, a changing climate and deforestation have impacted the platypuses' habitat and decreased their population. So, if we don’t want the modern platypus to go the same way as their 70-centimetre-long ancestors, it’s more important than ever to work towards the conservation and restoration of platypus and their habitat.

9. Platypuses were once thought to be a hoax

When platypuses were first discovered in 1798, British scientists thought they were a hoax created by combining parts of different animals together – webbed feet and a bill like a duck, a body like an otter and a tail like a beaver. But the joke was on them, the platypus is real and it is awesome!

10. Platypuses live in freshwater systems across eastern Australia

Platypuses are endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and rely on healthy freshwater systems to survive. Their habitats include creeks, rivers, and billabongs, many of which are under threat from pollution, land clearing, and climate change. In Far North Queensland, Djabugay Bulmba Rangers have combined Traditional Knowledge with modern conservation tools to confirm the presence of platypuses in the Wet Tropics, reinforcing the importance of Indigenous-led efforts to care for Country.

Platypus are disappearing from our landscapes. You can help bring them back.

Frequently Asked Questions About Platypus

• Q: Are platypuses venomous? A: Yes, male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs used during mating season.
• Q: Do platypuses lay eggs? A: Yes, platypuses are monotremes, meaning they lay eggs despite being mammals.
• Q: What do platypuses eat? A: Platypuses feed on insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, worms, and yabbies.
• Q: Why do platypuses glow under UV light? A: The reason for their biofluorescence is still unknown and remains a scientific mystery.
• Q: How can I help conserve platypuses? A: Support habitat restoration efforts and WWF-Australia’s conservation programs.

How You Can Help Protect the Platypus?

Join WWF-Australia in conserving the platypus and its habitat. Your support can help research and monitor their populations across eastern states and support the implementation and monitoring of a unique rewilding program that reintroduced platypuses back into areas where they once thrived.