Platypus
The platypus is an egg-laying mammal occurring in the eastern parts of Australia. We have seen these fascinating animals in the northern parts of Tasmania. It is one of few species of mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth. I
The unusual appearance of this mammal still surprises todays overseas visitors like as it did the first Europeans when they first encountered it. It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus having a spur on the hind foot that produces venom which can cause severe pain to humans. The platypus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales.
As many other animals the platypus is vulnerable to water pollution, although it seems not to be under any immediate threat.
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