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Ornithorhynchidae Platypus; Duck-billed platypus

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Higher taxa:  Life   Vertebrata   Mammalia   IDnature guides: Groups_Vertebrata, Mammalia_species We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. Animal Diversity Web

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Ornithorhynchus

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Overview  News  Technology  Conditions of Use  Privacy Policy  Partners & Contributors  Awards & Recognition  ADW Staff  Contact Us  Spinning Skulls  About Mammals  Frog Calls  Resources for College Instructors  Resources for K-12 Instructors  Contribute to ADW  What's in a Scientific Name?  Authority Lists: Where We Get Our Names  Name, Rank, and Serial Number  Organismal classification: evolutionary relationships & ranks  Glossary  Search Guide  Related Links  Contact Us  Report an Error Structured Inquiry Search — preview Home Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia Order Monotremata Family Ornithorhynchidae Family Ornithorhynchidae platypus Information Pictures Specimens Classification 2010/02/07 04:09:31.824 US/Eastern By Anna Bess Sorin and Phil Myers Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia Order: Monotremata Family: Ornithorhynchidae Members of this Family This family consists of a single genus and species, the duck-billed platypus. Often considered the most unique and bizarre of mammals, the duck-billed platypus uses receptors sensitive both to tactile stimulation and weak electrical fields to sense prey when digging under water. These sense organs are located in its "bill." This species is highly aquatic. It has webbed feet; dense, woolly, water-repellant fur; and furrows along the sides of its head to protect the eyes and ears when it swims under water. The external opening for the ear is tubular and the ears lack pinnae. The bill of a platypus is soft, flexible, and leathery, unlike a bird's beak. Nostrils are located at its tip. While young platypuses have molars, adults are toothless. They grind their food between horny (keratinous) plates located over the gums. Young platypuses have teeth, but these are lost in adults. Food is masticated between horny plates located on each jaw. The anterior part of these plates is ridged and is used to chop food; the posterior part is expanded and flat and used for crushing. Male platypuses have a sharp spur attached to each ankle. The spurs are grooved and connected to venom glands; these weapons may be used in combat between males for mates. A platypus feeds primarily on aquatic crustaceans, insect larvae, and some plants. Duck-billed platypuses live in burrows along the banks of water, including lakes, rivers, and even mountain streams. They have well-developed claws, but these are not as large as the claws of echidnas . Platypuses are excellent diggers. When a female is about to lay her eggs, she builds a deep burrow (which may be as much as 20-30 m in length), plugs the entrance, and incubates the eggs for 10-12 days. There is no pouch, and the mother curls her body around the eggs to keep them warm. Young are nursed for about five months. References and literature cited Feldhamer, G. A., L. C. Drickamer, S. H. Vessey, and J. F. Merritt. 1999. Mammalogy. Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. WCB McGraw-Hill, Boston. xii+563pp. Marshall, L. G. 1984. Monotremes and marsupials. Pp. 59-115 in Anderson, S. and J. Knox Jones, Jr., eds. Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World. John Wiley & Sons, New York. xii+686 pp. Vaughan, T. A. 1986. Mammalogy. Third Edition. Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth. vi+576 pp. Vaughan, T. A., J. M. Ryan, N. J. Czaplewski. 2000. Mammalogy. Fourth Edition. Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia. vii+565pp. Contributors Anna Bess Sorin (author), University of Michigan. Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. 2010/02/07 04:09:32.020 US/Eastern To cite this page: Sorin, A. and P. Myers. 2001. "Ornithorhynchidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 09, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ornithorhynchidae.html. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. Other formats: OWL Home   ¦   About Us   ¦   Special Topics   ¦   Teaching   ¦   About Animal Names   ¦   Help Structured Inquiry Search — preview Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative, the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan   Museum of Zoology . This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Report Error — Comment ©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. All rights reserved.