We all know the platypus is odd. It's an egg-laying mammal. It's generally described as having the characteristics of other animals: duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed. Indeed genome sequencing shows it has mammalian and reptilian DNA, "as well as two genes found previously only in birds, amphibians, and fish." (Wikipedia citing an article in Nature). But did you know....
- The platypus is a carnivore, but it has no teeth past infancy.
- The males are venomous.
- It has 10 sex chromosomes instead of 2 (a male has 5 X chromosomes and 5 Y chromosomes).
- The female has a pair of ovaries, but only the left one is functional, and also a duplex uterus. She produces milk but has no teats; her milk is released directly through pores in her skin.
- The platypus is one of two mammals (the other being one type of dolphin) which has electroreception (like sharks...)
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