In humans, the pain from a platypus sting can be treated with nerve blockers, which block specific nerve cells from sending signals to the brain. This venom is not lethal to platypuses or humans, but it causes swelling and excruciating pain, and it can disrupt wound healing and the function of cell membranes, she noted. The venom itself contains a cocktail of more than a dozen proteins that belong to three major classes of toxins, op den Brouw wrote. To inject its venom, a male wraps its legs around its victim and drives the spurs through the animal's flesh, according to op den Brouw. The venom glands of adult males fluctuate in size throughout the year, reaching their maximum size during breeding season, when males use their venom to compete for mates. Young females also have these spurs, but they lose them in the first year of life. Male platypuses carry venom glands, located near their pelvises, that connect to hollow spurs on their hind legs, according to a blog written by Bianca op den Brouw, (opens in new tab) a toxinologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia. The skin of the bill holds tens of thousands of sensory receptors that help the platypus navigate underwater and detect movement of potential food, such as shrimp, according to the Australian Platypus Conservatory. The bill of a platypus resembles that of a duck and has a smooth texture that feels like suede. The animals walk on their knuckles to protect the webbing, according to a 2001 report in the Journal of Experimental Biology (opens in new tab). When platypuses are on land, their webbing retracts, making the claws more pronounced, according to National Geographic (opens in new tab). Scientists are still investigating this question.Ī platypus's front feet have extra skin that acts like a paddle when the animal is swimming. It's possible that this biofluorescence helps reduce the animals' visibility to predators, but the eerie glow may serve little or no ecological function. Under ultraviolet light, however, platypuses' drab brown fur glows green and blue, Live Science previously reported (opens in new tab). Most of the fur is dark brown, except for a patch of lighter fur near each eye and lighter-colored fur on the underside. Police have urged anyone who comes into contact with it to not feed it or introduce it to a new environment as it may put people or the animal in danger.Platypuses have dense, thick fur that helps them stay warm underwater. The story of the incident has gone viral around the world and has made headlines in the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.Īnyone who sees a sick or injured platypus is urged to report it to the RSPCA at 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or to the Department of Environment and Science (DES) at 1300 130 372. Police have been told the animal was released into the Caboolture River, away from where it was taken. The platypus may become sick, be diseased, or die the longer it is out of its natural environment. It has not yet been located by authorities and its condition is unknown. The unlawful taking and keeping of a Platypus from the wild is a Class 1 offense under section 88 of the Nature Conservation Act 1992, which carries a maximum penalty of $288,077.Ī woman has spoken to the police and investigations are ongoing. QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images A hunt for a man and a woman, as well as the platypus, was sparked after the pair allegedly took the animal to the King Street shopping center in Australia and showed it to the public. It’s alleged the animal was taken from the wild in Queensland’s Moreton district at about 11 am on Tuesday.Ī 26-year-old man has been apprehended over the incident, charged with one count each of taking protected animal class 1 offense and restriction on keeping or using taken protected animal class 1 offense. They then allegedly took it to the King Street shopping center at Caboolture where they allegedly showed it to more members of the public. Police said the pair boarded a train at Morayfield Station in Queensland with the animal wrapped in a towel, patting it and showing it to fellow commuters. Police have arrested a man in connection to a platypus taken from its natural habitat on Tuesday morning.Ī hunt for a man and a woman, as well as the platypus, was sparked after the pair was allegedly caught on CCTV showing the creature to people on a train.
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