It's a duck... It's an otter... It's a beaver... You're all right, it's a
PLATYPUS!!!
This funny little critter is an Australian monotreme, which means it lays eggs instead of birthing live babies like the average mammal does. Its scientific name is ornithorhynchus anatinus and in my opinion exemplifies God's sense of humor, as I said on Meet the Nature Walker. You need to be careful of this bundle of mixed parts, though, because the male platypus has a poisonous spur on the inside of his rear legs. Nice little surprise, huh?
The best information I found on the platypus is from the Australia Zoo, where Steve Erwin was based. Here is a link. http://www.australianfauna.com/platypus.php
I actually have a couple things in common with this guy. I love to swim, and unless I have my goggles on, I swim with my eyes closed. Bad thing is I have no electroreceptors like they do. When I swim, I stretch my hand out in front of me to I don't run into the pool wall. It's funny how we both render ourselves blind underwater, and we both compensate for it. This makes me think of a reading we did for class about how we relate to animals, whether we are scared of them or not, etc., because we can't relate to them because of being so different. Think about that next time you are freaking out over an animal. There may be things you actually have in common.
Another tasty bit of food for thought; Before 2008, there weren't many platypus cartoons on TV. Now there is a series on Disney starring a family and their pet platypus. When you get a chance, check out Phineas and Ferb on Disney Channel and see what I mean. Very cool.
The best information I found on the platypus is from the Australia Zoo, where Steve Erwin was based. Here is a link. http://www.australianfauna.com/platypus.php
I actually have a couple things in common with this guy. I love to swim, and unless I have my goggles on, I swim with my eyes closed. Bad thing is I have no electroreceptors like they do. When I swim, I stretch my hand out in front of me to I don't run into the pool wall. It's funny how we both render ourselves blind underwater, and we both compensate for it. This makes me think of a reading we did for class about how we relate to animals, whether we are scared of them or not, etc., because we can't relate to them because of being so different. Think about that next time you are freaking out over an animal. There may be things you actually have in common.
Another tasty bit of food for thought; Before 2008, there weren't many platypus cartoons on TV. Now there is a series on Disney starring a family and their pet platypus. When you get a chance, check out Phineas and Ferb on Disney Channel and see what I mean. Very cool.