Online edition of Sunday Observer

Do you know the creature in this picture? Well, you may not have seen one in real life, but you would have at least seen a picture of a platypus. The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is native to Australia, and lives along rivers and streams in the eastern part of the country.

A platypus baby or "puggle" is held before being transferred back to it's burrow after emerging for the first time at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. After keeping a watchful eye on the breeding female Maryanne, via video surveillance, zoo staff suspected the offspring was on its way when she retired to her burrow. Pic:AFP

The animal, also known as duck mole, is one of only two species of mammals belonging to the group monotrens, which lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other being the echidna). It was first seen by the white settlers of Australia in the 1790s, and was described as a combination of reptile, bird, fish and furry animal. It was thought to be so strange, that reports of the sighting weren't even believed at first.

The platypus has a flat streamlined body, 30-45 cm long, with a muzzle shaped like a duck's bill, hence the name. It can weigh upto 2.4 kg. The bill is not as hard as a bird's, but is an elongated muzzle, covered in leathery skin. It has webbed feet with the webbing forming a paddle.

This webbing folds between its toes, when the animal is out of water. Its flattened tail, 10-15 cm long, resembles a beaver's and stores fat. The bill and feet are black, while the fur is mostly dark brown. It has one of the most water-proof fur among animals, which is in the form of three layers. The male has a spur on its hind legs, which can inject a venom into its enemies. This could be severely painful to humans and fatal to small animals.

The platypus is an excellent swimmer and diver; it's a strong though not fast swimmer, and uses only its front feet to swim. Its eyes and ears are shut when it's under water. Because it's a buoyant animal, it must constantly be swimming downwards to stay submerged.

It dives for food, and can stay under water for about two minutes, although it can rest submerged under some object in the water for about 10 minutes.

It has a good sense of sight and hearing, but relies on its electrically sensitive bill, which can detect small electric currents released by small animals, to find food.

It stores whatever it finds in its cheek pouches, and after reaching the surface, sorts it out before consuming its meal. Its diet consists of insect larvae, freshwater shrimp, molluscs, frogs and fish eggs. It can eat its own body weight in one night.

The platypus lives in burrows it has dug in the banks of rivers and streams. It's a nocturnal animal, and is rather shy and solitary, although the males can be quite aggressive during the mating season.

The female lays two leathery-shelled eggs at a time, and incubates them. The pups live on the milk provided by their mother, and will be weaned by five months. It will have fur in six weeks. In the wilds, a platypus can live upto 12 years.

Animals such as eagles, hawks, owls, crocodiles, water rats, foxes, dogs and even cats prey on them. However, the loss of habitat is the biggest threat confronting this animal.