When platypuses were finally accepted as legitimate animals, the science world was further perplexed by the unusual animalsвЂ™ ability to hunt prey in deep stygian waters without the use of sight, sound, or smell. Even in our modern day, the idea of a mammal that lays eggs rather than delivering life offspring seems counterintuitive. Many scientists believed that these animals were a hoax, merely a mammal costumed with a duck-bill and webbed feet (Griffiths 1998). Over two centuries ago, the governor of colony in Sydney sent the fur of an animal to European biologists that he could only describe as a вЂњsmall amphibious animal of the mole kind which boroughs in the banks of the fresh water lakes.вЂќ Included with his package was the closest earliest illustration of platypuses to date shown below (Griffiths 1998). Upon their discovery, platypuses were met with suspicion.

Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus Source: Discovery Channel and Nil (Wikipedia) Electroreception allows platypuses to use electrical impulses to locate objects in the deepest and darkest of waters. Unlike any other mammal on this planet, platypuses have the curious ability to perceive underwater prey using underwater detection refered to as electroreception.

Introduction Platypuses are unusual creatures with unusual abilities.

Platypus evolution ultimate being