Platypuses: Web-Footed Billed Mammals

Platypuses swim along the rocky bottoms of rivers. These unusual animals have fur, black bills, and webbed feel. They rest inside hidden burrows. They use their bills to sense the electricity other animals are giving off in the water. The platypus is a type of mammal. All mammals have backbones and fur or hair. They make milk to feed their babies, and most give birth to live young. But mammals have many differences too. Find out what a platypus has in common with a beaver or a dolphin. Learn what sets a platypus apart from a giraffe or a wild dog. Check out the comparison charts and use your compare-and-contrast skills to explore mammal traits!