The platypus is native to the freshwaters of eastern Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania.
The platypus is a carnivore and forages. It feeds on insect larvae, annelid worms, shrimp, crayfish, bivalves, tadpoles and fish eggs. It stores food in its cheek pouches for later consumption.
The platypus is semiaquatic and requires permanent freshwater habitat. Its swimming style is unique among mammals, propelling itself by alternating strokes of each front foot, while the webbed hind feet and tail are used for steering. It can maintain its relatively low body temperature when feeding in colder depths of below 5 °C. The species is mainly nocturnal but is also active at dusk during the summer and daytime during winter. A platypus may spend half the day in water and then retreat into its burrow, which is constructed by digging into the bank.
The common name "platypus" means 'flat-foot', derived from the Greek word platúpous: from platús meaning 'broad, wide, flat' and poús meaning 'foot'.
Various dictionaries list "platypuses" or simply "platypus" as the plural. Alternatively, the term "platypi" is also used for the plural, although this is a form of pseudo-Latin; going by the word's Greek roots the plural would be "platypodes".
The platypus is an egg-laying mammal! It is one of the five extant species of monotremes.
The platypus is a little bit mammal (it produces milk and is furry), a little bit reptile (it lays eggs and has venom) and a little bit bird (eggs again, plus it has a bill like a duck as well as webbed feet). How much more awesome can it get?