D is for Duck Billed Platypus

The DBP is something of a WTF creature, if you know what I mean. The platypus lives in Eastern Australia and is quirky in the way you will only find in a country where folks throw bent sticks in the air so as they can come back to them, as a passtime.

The platypus is a mammal. It has a flat, streamlined body. But in some ways it's as if its creator decided to use little bits of other creatures and was having a laugh.

The platypus has a muzzle shaped like the bill of a duck, webbed feet, and a tail like that of a beaver. The bill may look like a duck's but it is not hard like that of a bird. It is actually an elongated muzzle covered with a leathery skin rather than a hard beak. The bill and feet of a platypus are dark black while the fur is usually a dark brown color. The platypus also possesses a spur on it hind legs that can be used to inject venom into another creature. In humans this can cause agonizing pain so platypets are not a great idea. It can be fatal to smaller creatures.

If you are not confused enough already this is one of only five mammals to lay eggs, rather than giving birth to its young live. The platypus also walks like a reptile. It's one mixed up bunny.

Platypuses also have a sense of electroreception: they locate their prey in part by detecting electric fields generated by muscular contractions. Platypuses have been heard to emit a low growl when disturbed and a range of other vocalisations have been reported in specimens in captivity, although the rumor that they can sing like the Bee Gees is just that. Much is muddled about these creatures. There's not even an accepted plural in relation to them; is it Platipuses or Platipi - who knows?

Despite, or maybe because of their quirkiness, these animals have featured heavily in popular culture. Syd the platypus was one of the three mascots chosen for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. There's a Green Day song "Platypus (I Hate You)", Robin Williams refers to them as proof that God has a sense of humor in Dogma, and I find it hard to escape from Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.

Useless Fact About the Duck Billed Platypus

They don't have passports. Once they are taken out of Oz they never do well. As of 2013^[update], there are apparently no platypuses in captivity outside of Australia. Three unsuccessful attempts were made to bring the animals to the Bronx Zoo, in 1922, 1947, and 1958; of these, only two of the three animals introduced back in 1947 survived longer than 18 months. Fair dinkum mate - they wouldn't give a XXXX for any place outside Oz.

What Not To Say to a Platypus

Here's some bread ducky, ducky