Source: Science and Technology Daily
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"Magic" can reach the duck music box to become popular on the Internet
As one of the representative characters of well-known IP Pokémon
Up to the duck music box through the network rapid fermentation
After Lingna Belle and Ice Pier
Another "new favorite" sought after by young consumers
A large number of consumers are looking for ducks
All of a sudden
A "duck" is hard to find
Up to the duck's cute appearance
Loved by many
The wide flat mouth and webbed feet make people feel
It may be based on a duck
But actually
The duck is more like an egg-laying mammal
platypus
Up to duck in real life
It may look like this ↓↓↓
Platypus are strange magical creatures in appearance and behavior
It was not recognized by scientists until the end of the 18th century
Strange appearance and mixed with many species characteristics
Platypus is a rare oligopod mammal that breathes through its lungs and is the only animal in the genus Ornithorhynchus of the protozoic suborder Uniporaceae family Platypus. Platypus have a mouth like a duck, a body like a beaver, claws like an otter, and a flattened tail to help them balance when swimming.
When the platypus specimen was first sent to the museum, the strange shape made zoologists in the British museum at the time think it was a prank. Zoologist George Shaw officially reported the platypus in Naturalist's Miscellany in 1799.
Different species of platypuses range in size. The larger ones live in Tasmania, while the smaller ones live in Queensland. Adult platypuses range in weight from less than 1 kg to 3 kg and are 30 to 40 cm long, with the tail taking up 10 to 15 cm in length. Males are about 1/3 larger than females.
Where is Pokémon "Magical"?
Platypus is not the most exotic in the animal kingdom, but it subverts the impression of mammals. As a magical mammal, it has many unique "magical" characteristics:
Platypus have no teeth
The platypus has a duck-like mouth with no teeth in its mouth. And the duck's mouth of the platypus is very soft and can be bent, which is full of nerves, more of a role in transmitting sensations, can not bite off food like teeth. When eating, the platypus will swallow the gravel along with the food and swallow it back and forth in the water, grinding the food and swallowing it into the belly.
Platypus can both breastfeed and lay eggs
Although mammalian, platypus reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs they lay are slightly different from the hard-shelled eggs of birds, which tend to be only 1 cm in diameter and are soft-shelled and leathery.
At the same time, the source of nutrition for platypus cubs is mainly milk, and casein is especially abundant in the milk of platypus. However, the platypus has no mammalian organs, its lactamers are hidden on either side of the abdomen, and the platypus eats milk by licking the abdomen.
Platypus hind feet have poisonous spines
Platypus has a rare mammalian trait and common among reptiles, which is the secretion of venom. Male platypuses have a spike on their hind feet that are connected to glands that secrete venom. Scientists believe that the venom of platypus is more used in courtship activities, and platypus will secrete this venom when competing for a partner, and the two sides will stab each other, and whoever can take the lead in turning the competitor over can win the fierce battle. And if a person is accidentally stabbed, it will also cause long-term pain.
In addition to lactation, platypuses live alone and sleep up to 14 hours a day. They inhabit rivers and live in the water with sharp, webbed feet, and burrow holes in river and lake shores. Platypus are nocturnal and carnivores, usually hunting crustaceans, earthworms, and other animals at the water's edge in the early morning and dusk.
Platypus may face extinction in the future
Platypus populations are small and only inhabit parts of Australia, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified platypuses as "near threatened" in recent years.
Back in 2019, Australian researcher Hawke surveyed centuries of historical data and found that the population of platypus in rivers and streams in eastern Australia and Tasmania has plummeted due to hunting, habitat loss and climate change.
In recent years, Australia's persistent high temperatures and droughts, river pollution, and the habitat of platypus have further accelerated. 40% of Australia's east coast, where platypuses were once active, is no longer found.
Scientists expect platypus populations to plummet by 73 percent by 2070 and believe that conservation measures need to be put in place in advance "to minimize the risk of extinction."
Magical platypus
There may be many secrets to be discovered
Hope this cute little animal
Can continue to be with us
Explore this beautiful planet