Our topic today is the noble platypus. Here are the first of a few bits of trivia about our elegant and interesting Australian friend.
1. The platypus was thought to be a hoax when first discovered. (I don't know why... something about it looking like someone glued a duckbill to a beaver... whatever.)
2. The male platypus is one of a very few poisonous mammals in the world. He has a hollow spur located on one of rear legs through which he injects a venom which can be very painful to humans. The female platypus has no such defense. (In an ironic twist of fate, most of the other poisonous mammals in the world are varieties of the shrew.)
3. Platypuses have no nipples.
4. A baby platypus is called a puggle, but I've also seen the word "platypup" used.
I hope you've enjoyed this edition of platypus trivia. Please join us next time when you might hear a platypus say, "Errrr-Rrr!"
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