The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a puzzling array of features. Not only does it have that iconic duck bill, it lays eggs like a bird or reptile but feeds milk to its young like a mammal.
Australian biologists have discovered that platypuses might produce some of the healthiest milk out there. And who's really that surprised? The platypus is a weird mammal for a whole lot of reasons; its super nutritious milk is the icing on the quirky cake that is this half-duck/half-otter monotreme.
Exclusive to Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, the platypus and the echidna are the only two mammals known to lay eggs! These are two types of eggs which are definitely not suitable for eating. A platypus egg is pretty small. At not even a ½ inch in diameter, you'd need a whole bunch!
The female platypus lays her eggs in an underground burrow that she digs near the water's edge. Baby platypuses hatch after 10 days and nurse for up to four months before they swim off and forage on their own.
They secrete milk from specialised mammary glands, just like humans and other mammals. But platypuses don't have teats, so the milk just oozes from the surface of their skin.
The platypus is a monotreme--a group where the females produce offspring by laying eggs. Giving birth this way is extremely unusual among living mammals--but normal for most other animals. Almost every other vertebrate, including most reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds, reproduces by laying eggs.
Breastmilk is not a uniquely human feature. All mammals produce milk, and each mammalian species produces its own special blend best suited for its babies.
Other characteristics of dolphins that make them mammals rather than fish are that they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs and they feed their young with milk.
The platypus — a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal found in Australia — is one of few mammals to make venom, which males produce in abdominal venom glands and deliver through spurs on their hind legs.
Birds and fish are not the only animals that lay eggs. Insects, turtles, lizards, and reptiles lay eggs, too. Only two mammals lay eggs: the platypus and the echidna.
Ostrich eggs have a richer, more buttery taste, which is described as more intense than the taste of a chicken egg. Some people even describe the taste as “gamey”.
Culinary factors also contribute to the dearth of turkey egg consumption. Turkey eggs have a thicker and tougher shell membrane and are harder to break than chicken eggs. Furthermore, most recipes are designed for the amount of liquid in a chicken egg.
Edible, but 'conditions apply'
A simple answer would be 'Yes'; snake eggs can be consumed by humans. However, they need to be cooked properly. If you consume partially cooked snake eggs, it might lead to gastrointestinal distress. Another issue is that the taste of snake eggs may not appeal to everyone.
They love yabbies, worms, snails, mussels and fish eggs. But every once in a while, just for a treat, they enjoy that other Aussie native: TimTams. They're favourites are the Original, but they can be tempted with the Dark Chocolate variety too. But absolutely not the Mint TimTams.
As noted last month in the journal Mammalia, shining an ultraviolet light on a platypus makes the animal's fur fluoresce with a greenish-blue tint. They're one of the few mammals known to exhibit this trait. And we're still in the dark about why they do it — if there is a reason at all.
What do platypus eat? Platypus are carnivores, which means they only eat meat. They eat small water animals, such as insect larvae, freshwater shrimps and crayfish. They use their sensitive bill to detect electrical currents in the water and find prey.
#9: Vampire Bats
Bats are the only flying mammal, and vampire bats are therefore the only venomous flying mammal. There are several species of venomous vampire bat such as the hairy-legged vampire bat, the white-winged vampire bat, and the common vampire.
They are shy animals and will avoid confrontation with humans if they can help it. They aren't equipped with teeth that can help them bite, and the only form of defense they have is the pointed spurs in their heels. However, if platypuses are handled in the wild, they can prick you with their spur and inject venom.
Although powerful enough to paralyse smaller animals, the venom is not lethal to humans. Yet, it produces excruciating pain that may be intense enough to incapacitate a victim. Swelling rapidly develops around the entry wound and gradually spreads outward.
Eggs are laid on plants by the adult female butterfly. These plants will then become the food for the hatching caterpillars. Eggs can be laid from spring, summer or fall. This depends on the species of butterfly.
There are over 500 species of shark living in waters around the world and the majority give birth to live young. The remainder are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Around 40 to 50 different shark species live permanently in or regularly visit the waters surrounding Britain.
Using echolocation, dolphins might be able to detect a pregnant woman's developing fetus, some experts say. Dolphins emit sounds in their environment and listen to the echoes that return — a process that helps them identify the shapes and locations of objects.
Hippopotamus gives the milk of blue color. Blue milk, also known as Bantha milk, was a rich blue-colored milk produced by female banthas.
Answer: The female black rhinoceros or Diceros bicornis give black milk. Explanation: Black milk is the slimmest milk containing very little amount of fat (0.2%) is produced by Black rhinoceros.