The platypus must be the strangest-looking animal on Earth! It's name means 'flat-footed duck'. Indeed, it does have the feet and bill of a duck! It lays eggs like one too. But platypuses are not birds, they are mammals. 

Platypuses are not endangered. There are about 300,000 animals, all in Australia. Their biggest threats are predators such as snakes, water rats, foxes, cats and dogs. Other threats include loss of habitat due to pollution or land clearance. 

mammals: animals that have fur, are warm-blooded and have babies that drink milk

threats: dangers

predators: animals that hunt them for food

The platypus is a very funny-looking animal! It has the tail of a beaver, the bill and feet of a duck, the body of an otter, and it lays eggs like a bird! Its fur is very thick in order to keep it warm and dry in the water. 

Platypuses are odd for another reason - they are mammals but they lay eggs! Almost all mammals have babies that drink milk. The platypus  is one of 5 mammals that lay eggs.

Platypuses are not very big. They are about the size of a housecat. Their bodies are about 15 inches (38 cm) long and they weigh from about 1-4 lbs (0.5-1.7 kg)

Interesting fact: the male platypus is one of the world's only venomous mammals! The venom is bad enough to kill smaller animals such as dogs but is not strong enough to kill a person. It will cause very painful swelling, however!

Platypuses live to about 20 years of age.

mammals: animals that have fur, are warm-blooded and have babies that drink milk

venomous: poisonous, toxic, can kill from a bite or sting

odd: strange, funny, different