Wen | the whole point of science popularization
In the vast world, there are no wonders, and the strangest animal in the world is none other than the platypus. When they first saw the platypus specimen, many scientists thought it was a prank, because it was completely a "stitching monster" made up of several animals, and it seemed impossible to have multiple animal features at the same time.
The emergence of the platypus has greatly changed our previous understanding of mammals, and its whole body is full of unscientific meanings, and as the research continues to deepen, there are more strange places.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > the most primitive mammals</h1>
Platypus is a mammal that maintains its most primitive shape as a mammal. At present, the oldest living platypus fossil has been found in the Cretaceous strata of Australia, and it is speculated that it may have appeared 200 million years ago, and today, it has no blood relatives on Earth.
As the oldest surviving mammal, it is known as the "living fossil" of the mammal kingdom, and it also belongs to the single-perforate, and there are two species in the world, namely platypus and echidna, which are very unique.
The so-called single-hole order refers to:
Animals have only one cloaca, no anus, urethra, or birth canal, and are completed by a single cloaca.
Although the platypus is ancient and unique, they have very high survival requirements, only found in the independent Australian continent, are Australian mascots, the local popularity is very high; if you are lucky enough to see the platypus, do not do harm, because the platypus is a first-class protected animal.
In fact, the platypus is not the most peculiar in the animal kingdom, but it subverts people's understanding of mammals, so strange that science is caught in a puzzle.
So, what is the strangeness of this animal, which is called a suture monster?
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" > the quirks of platypus</h1>
shape
The platypus has a very strange appearance, with a duck-like mouth, webbed feet, a beaver tail, and large rice-grained eyes.
It is a mixture of terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, and birds, and it is really different.
The body length is generally 40 to 50 cm, which is slightly longer than the average domestic duck. Although it is a mammal, it mostly lives in the water, sleeping during the day, foraging at night, and hibernating in the winter.
gender
Platypus not only has an odd appearance, but after a closer look, it is found that their internal structure is even more eccentric.
Human sex is determined by a pair of sex chromosomes, XX is female and XY is male.
However, platypus is perverse, they have a total of 10 sex chromosomes! There are 10 X's that are females, 5 X's and 5 Y's are males, and theoretically there are 25 sexes.
Genetically comparing their sex chromosomes with humans, lizards, chickens, and possums, scientists have found that the sex chromosomes of platypus have much more in common with those of ordinary mammals than birds!
Breeding methods
As we all know, most mammals are born, bred in the body, and finally produced, and fed offspring, while platypuses are special, they are first spawned, then hatched, and then breastfed, that is, oviparous mammals.
In addition, mammals use their breasts to secrete milk and feed their cubs, while platypuses do not have breasts, secrete milk through the pores of the abdomen, gather together, and then let the cubs eat it, which is very outrageous.
A duck's beak with a radar
The mouth of the platypus is not as simple as imagined, the seemingly hard shell, in fact, soft texture, covered with nerve cells, can be like radar, receive weak biological current, so that they can move freely under muddy and dim water, and can accurately catch prey, in mammals have this special ability, it and dolphins.
The platypus can hold its breath underwater for up to forty seconds, and its ears, eyes, and nostrils are closed when it is launched, and once it is entangled in something, it is easy to drown, so the mouth is also the most important survival weapon of the platypus.
No teeth and stomach
Platypus is a pure carnivorous animal, the main food source is crayfish, fish, worms, crustaceans, etc., it is very capable of eating meat, but has no teeth, chewing these foods is completely dependent on the mouth, to be precise, the upper and lower jaws are used to crush food, if encountered in difficult to crush food, they will swallow stones, use broken stones to help crush food, promote digestion.
When you understand the digestive system of platypus, you will find that they lack an essential organ for mammals, that is, the stomach that digests food, so what do they take to digest?
In fact, the ancestors of platypus had stomachs, but gradually abandoned the stomach in the process of evolution, because they did not need the stomach to digest complex food, and the connection between the intestines and the esophagus in the body was enough to digest food, which was simply outrageous!
Moreover, last year, scientists discovered a special function of platypus: under ultraviolet radiation, the fur can emit blue-green fluorescence, and it is likely to be considered a water monster when it travels downstream.
The platypus adds another unsolved mystery, and the more it studies, the more doubts it becomes.
Although humans have not yet thoroughly interpreted the platypus, they also understand that the strange features they have have their own meaning, and the patchwork body and strange characteristics look very funny, but everything is a magic weapon for their survival, helping them survive such a long time, which may be the reason for the platypus's strangeness.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" >Exertination: The Stinger of the Platypus</h1>
In general, most mammals are not poisonous, only arthropods are highly poisonous, but the platypus is an exception, it has poisonous spines, which are not visible on the surface, because this thorn is hidden behind the fins, which is full of venom and mixed with more than 80 other animal toxins.
Although these stingers will disappear after growing to 30 centimeters, their toxicity is daunting, its venom can cause prey to appear inflammatory, muscle contractions, blood clotting and death, basically not fatal to humans, but the severe pain can also last for up to several months, it is said that like hundreds of bees stung, there is no ten days and half a month can not get out of bed.
Platypus is only distributed in a small part of Australia, but with the change of climate and the impact of human activities, the habitat of platypus has gradually shrunk, and the area where platypus was once frequent is now missing, and their survival situation is worrying.
This ancient living fossil gives mankind unlimited reverie, and I really don't want this cute and magical animal to go extinct.
Have you ever seen a platypus?
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