Rebecca Woodbury Ph.D.
A platypus has a bill like a duck, lays eggs like a duck, and has webbed feet. It has a flat tail and fur like a beaver. This unusual animal belongs to a group of mammals called monotremes. A mammal is an animal that breathes air, feeds milk to its babies, and has fur for at least part of its life. Most mammals give birth to live babies, with monotremes being the only egg-laying mammals. Platypuses live near lakes and slow-moving rivers. They eat while they are in water, most often at night, with a diet that includes bugs, beetles, shrimps, snails, and worms. The platypus uses its bill to snap up food from the water and to find food on the bottom of lakes and rivers. They sleep in burrows near the water’s edge. A female platypus lays 1-3 eggs and cares for the babies when the eggs hatch. The male has a sharp spur on each hind leg that releases poison. The platypus is found only in Australia.A pronunciation guide of scientific terms is included. 24 pages filled with engaging, colorful illustrations. Reading Level 1-3, Interest Level 2-5.
