platypus - an amazing animal that lives only in Australia, Tasmania.Outlandish miracle refers to mammals, but unlike other animals lay eggs, like an ordinary bird.Platypus egg-laying mammals are - rare species of animals, which have been preserved only on the Australian continent.
History of discovery
Strange creatures can boast of unusual history of their discovery.The first description was given to the Australian platypus pioneers in the early 18th century.For a long time science has not recognized the existence of the platypus and the mention of them considered inept joke Australian residents.Finally, in the late 18th century, British scientists of the University have received a parcel from Australia with fur unknown beast, like a beaver, with paws like an otter, and a nose like a common domestic duck.Such beak looked so ridiculous that scientists even shaved the hair on the face, considering the Australian duck wags sewn nose to beaver pelts.Not finding any seams or traces of glue, pundits just threw up his hands.Nobody could understand, nor where he lives, either as a platypus reproduces.Only a few years later, in 1799, British naturalist George. The show proved the existence of this miracle and gave the first detailed description of the substance, which was later given the name "platypus".Photo ptitsezverya can only be done in Australia, because it is the only continent where currently live these exotic animals.
Origin
appearance of platypus is one of those distant times when there were no modern continents.All land has been merged into one huge continent - Gondwana.It was then, 110 million years ago, the platypus appeared in terrestrial ecosystems, taking place recently extinct dinosaurs.Migrating, platypuses settled across the continent, and after the disintegration of Gondwana remained to live on a large plot of former continent, which later was named Australia.Due to the isolated location of their homeland, the animals have preserved the original appearance, even after millions of years.Various platypuses once inhabited the entire expanse of land, but so far has reached only one species of these animals.
Classification
quarter century leading minds in Europe wrestle with how to classify overseas beast.A particular challenge is the fact that the creature turned a lot of features that are found in birds and animals and amphibians.
All the fat reserves in the tail of the platypus saves, not a hair on the body.Therefore, the tail of a beast solid, heavy, can not only stabilize the movement of the platypus in the water, but also serves as an excellent means of defense.The weight of an animal is around one and a half to two kilograms at a length of half a meter.Compare with the domestic cat, which is under the same dimensions weighs much more.Animals do not have nipples, but the milk they produce.The temperature at ptitsezverya lowered, barely reaches 32 degrees Celsius.This is much lower than the body temperature of birds and mammals.In addition, the platypus has another striking feature in the truest sense.These animals can affect the poison that makes them quite dangerous opponents.Like almost all reptiles, the platypus lays eggs.Platypuses in common with snakes and lizards, and the ability to produce the poison, and the location of course, as in amphibians.Amazing platypus gait.He moves, bending his body, like a reptile.After his legs do not grow from the bottom of the trunk, like birds or animals.Limbs that not a bird, not the animals are located on the sides of the body, like lizards, crocodiles and monitor lizards.High on the animal's head are the eyes and ear openings.They can be found in cavities located on either side of the head.No ears, while diving, he closes his eyes and ears of the special skin fold.
Although the platypus lays eggs like a bird moves, like a reptile, and dives as the beaver, the basis for the classification of milk, scientists have recognized that animals suckle their young.And then they came to a final conclusion.Platypus - mammals, single-pass, egg-laying, lives and breeds only on the Australian continent.In the scientific classification called Ornithorhynchus anatinus.In the long-term dispute has come to an end.
Habitats
Australia - the only continent on the banks of which the platypus lives.Where is home to an animal, you can guess, if you just look at his flat tail and webbed feet with.Gloomy coast, swamps and marshes of eastern Australia are a paradise for platypus.The entire life cycle is associated with water.Living ptitsezveri in long holes located on the banks of rivers.Any dwelling platypus has two outputs, one of which is necessarily under water.Nora has a length of several meters and ends nesting chamber.Platypus clog exits nor ground to retain moisture and to protect against the ingress of predators.
Lifestyle
Unusual animals feed on small river dwellers.To hunt these animals use their wonderful nose.Despite the apparent similarity of this organ in the animal it is arranged differently than the hard bird's beak.The nose of the animal is formed by two pits in the form of an arc.These bones are thin and long, and it is on these tight naked like rubber, leather platypus.Nose animal plows river bottom in search of food.Front feet - universal body, the most adapted to the life cycle of the animal.Between fingers on forelegs are webbed, with which the platypus moves nimbly and quickly under water.Compress animal fingers - issued outside claws, which are convenient river plow the soil or dig a hole in the mating season.Hind legs are much weaker than the front.They enjoyed the platypus as a wheel while moving in the water.The stabilizer movement during swimming and diving is a flat tail.Rows of animal forelegs, wriggling in the water whole body.As land moves slowly, it is only able to walk or run for short distances.
Power duckbill platypus
sufficiently serious enemy for those animals that he hunts.Ptitsezveri insatiable - the day they should eat the amount of food, equal to a fifth of its own weight.Therefore, hunting animals continued for 10-12 hours a day.First beast lies motionless on the water, going with the flow.But mining is detected, the animal instantly dives and catches the prey.Predator can stay under water for only 30 minutes, but thanks to its amazing paws develops greater speed and excellent maneuvering.The eyes and ears in the water predator keeps closed, oriented in search of food only on the sense of smell.Platypus appears, inhabited by his favorite food: insect larvae, worms, various crustaceans, small fish and some species of algae.All caught the platypus hides in the mouth, cheek pouches.When the bags are full, a platypus goes on the waterfront or to the surface of water.Resting, animal frays caught his horny jaws, which serve as his teeth.
hunting methods
When the platypus hunt is guided by the electric field, which is produced by all living beings.Electroreceptors located on a wonderful nose animal.With these animal well-versed in the water and catch prey.There are cases, when the hunt for platypus poachers used traps, generating a weak electric current, and allowed a trap for prey.
Surprisingly, the platypus are rare mammals that are able to produce the poison.This unusual weapon can boast only males.In the mating season increases the toxicity of the venom.Located in the poison spurs that are located at the end of the hind legs.The toxicity of the venom is not enough to kill a person, but painful burns occurring at the site of the lesion heals a lot of weeks later.Poison for hunting and protection from predators.Although natural enemies have little platypus, its meat may be interested in lizards, pythons and sea leopards.
Courtship
Every year platypus hibernate, which lasts 5-10 short winter days.After that comes the period of mating.As multiplies the platypus, scientists have found out recently.It turns out, as all the main events in the life of these animals, courtship takes place in water.The male bites the female's tail, which he liked, then the animals for a while in the water circling around each other.Standing couples have no children platypus are only female, which is itself engaged in their cultivation and education.
Waiting young
month after mating platypus digs long deep hole, filling it with armfuls of wet leaves and twigs.All you need is a female, covering legs and tucking your bottom flat tail.When the shelter is ready, the expectant mother is placed in the slot, and the entrance to the burrow crosses land.In this nest chamber platypus lays eggs.In laying usually two, sometimes three small whitish eggs that are glued together with adhesive substance.A female incubates the eggs of 10-14 days.This animal spends time, curled up in a ball in the clutch, hidden wet leaves.Thus a female platypus can occasionally get out of the hole in order to eat, brush and wet the fur.
Birth platypus
After two weeks of living in laying platypus appears small.Eggs kid breaks the egg tooth.After the baby comes out of the shell, the tooth disappears.After the birth of a female platypus moves the cubs to your abdomen.Platypus - mammals, so a female feeds the young with milk.Platypuses have no nipples, the milk from the enlarged pores on the stomach of her that flows down the hair into special grooves where his young lick.His mother occasionally goes out to hunt and clean, and the entrance to the hole plugged ground.
to eight weeks Young mothers need warmth and may freeze if left unattended for a long time.
At the eleventh week in young platypuses eyes open, four months babies grow up to 33 cm in length, overgrown hair and fully switch to adult food.Later they leave the burrow and begin to adult lifestyle.At the age of one year, the platypus becomes sexually mature adult.
platypus in the history
Before the advent of the banks of the first European settlers in Australia platypus had virtually no external enemies.But the surprising and valuable fur has made them the target species of white people.Skins platypuses, black-brown on the outside and gray inside, one time went on tailoring coats and hats for European fashionistas.And the locals did not hesitate to shoot the platypus for their needs.In the early twentieth century, reducing the number of these animals has become rampant.Naturalists have sounded the alarm, and joins the ranks of endangered animals platypus.Australia began to create special reserves for amazing animals.The animals were taken under state protection.The problem was complicated by the fact that the place where the platypus lives must be protected from human presence, since this animal shy and sensitive.In addition, the mass distribution of rabbits on the continent deprived platypus usual nesting sites - their burrows occupied eared aliens.Therefore, the government had to allocate a huge area, enclosed by a third-party intervention in order to preserve and increase the population of the platypus.These reserves have played a crucial role in maintaining the populations of these animals.
platypuses in captivity
Attempts were made to settle the animal in a zoo.In 1922, the New York Zoo, arrived first platypus, who has lived in captivity only 49 days.Because of their desire for peace and raised shy animals have not mastered zoos, captive platypus lays eggs reluctant offspring managed to get only a few times.No cases of human taming these exotic animals.Platypuses were and are wild and original Australian Aborigines.
platypus today
Now platypus are not considered endangered animals.Tourists like to visit the place where the platypus lives.Photo of animal travelers willing to publish his stories about the Australian tour.Images ptitsezverya are the hallmark of many Australian products and manufacturers.Along with kangaroos platypus has become a symbol of the Australian continent.
