Even a brief glance reveals that the platypus is a pretty weird creature. It looks sort of like a beaver that tried to disguise itself as a duck. In fact, the first naturalist who described this iconic Australian mammal for science initially thought the first specimen he saw was fake.
But however strange platypuses look, they get even stranger. Here are five surprising facts about these oddball animals:
They lay eggs: Platypuses belong to a small group of mammals called monotremes. The only monotremes that exist today are platypuses and four species of echidnas. These five species of monotremes all lay eggs. But like mammals that give birth to live young, platypuses nurse their babies. They don’t have nipples, though. Instead, mama platypuses simply “sweat” their milk.
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They sense electricity: Special receptors in platypus bills allow them to sense electrical signals from moving prey underwater. This helps platypuses find insects, worms and other grub in the rivers and streams where they hunt. Echidnas and other animals, such as sharks, also have this sixth sense of electroreception.
They’re venomous: Male platypuses sport spurs on the heels of their webbed hind feet. A prick from one of these spurs delivers a dose of venom. Scientists have seen male platypuses stick each other with their spurs during fights over mates to briefly paralyze their rivals.
They glow under ultraviolet (UV) light: This glow, called fluorescence, isn’t immediately obvious. The platypus’s body absorbs UV radiation and then releases that energy as a bluish green glow. It’s not yet clear whether this eerie glow helps platypuses in some way. It might help the animals find each other or hide from predators at night.
Their fur shares similarities with bird feathers: Scientists recently found that tiny pigment packets in platypus hairs are more like those found in bird feathers than the fur of other mammals. Much like the fur’s greenish glow, it remains a mystery how this birdlike feature might be useful to platypuses.
Want to know more? We’ve got some stories to get you started:
When it’s hot, echidnas blow snot bubbles to cool off Meet platypuses’ closest cousins — adorable spike-balls called echidnas. They have a kind of gross and extremely cute way to keep cool. (3/29/2023) Readability: 7.8
Weird? These bat toes can glow greenish-blue Platypuses aren’t the only mammals that light up under UV. Some bats’ toes glow, too. (10/15/2025) Readability: 6.7
Explainer: What is a shark? An electrical sixth sense is not unique to platypuses. Sharks sense electricity to find prey, too. (10/2/2025) Readability: 6.1
Scientists releasing platypuses into the wild are helping restore these creatures to their natural habitats in Australia.Explore more
Surprise! These animals can help fight climate change
Can’t touch this: Unusual venomous creatures
A blue-green glow adds to platypuses’ long list of bizarre features (from Science News)
Platypus fur has a surprising feature seen only in bird feathers (from Science News)
‘Echidnapus’ hints at a lost age of egg-laying mammals (from Science News)
Platypuses are full of mystery (from Science News)
Activities
Want to see a platypus in action? You just might catch one on camera with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Platypus Cam! This zoo, in California, is the only zoo outside Australia where you can find platypuses.
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