Platypus

People use the term “duck billed platypus” as if “duck billed” is the type of platypus.

This is not the case. All platypus have duck like bills.

Although it’d be interesting if there were Parakeet Beaked Platypus, Hammerhead Platypus, Pig Snout Platypus, and the like.

10 thoughts on “Platypus

  • 7/10/2006 at 5:51 pm
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    YES!
    This has ALWAYS bothered me. There is only ONE type of platypus in the world. And it’s got a duck-bill. I dare anybody…no, DEFY anybody to find me another platypus. I’m holding out for hammerhead.

    Interesting science fact! There are only 4 egg-laying mammals in the world: The platypus, and 3 types of echidna.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 6:59 am
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    They also all live exclusively on the continent of Australia, no?

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  • 7/11/2006 at 7:04 am
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    That’s correct. Gold star!

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  • 7/11/2006 at 8:26 am
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    Also, the males have a venemous spur on their rear legs.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 9:26 am
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    How come we have “duck billed platypus” and not “platypus billed ducks”?

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  • 7/11/2006 at 12:13 pm
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    MS PAINT!
    Platypus-billed Ducks

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  • 7/11/2006 at 7:49 pm
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    Funny Sander. I lack the talent, but if anybody else wants to tackle that, I’ll be happy to laugh at the result.

    Jes, I believe it stems from the fact that we live in a very western-centric world, and ducks were known in western civilization before platypi were.

    But perhaps we simply haven’t thought this through. Perhaps the platypus used to be termed (aka billed) a member of the duck family. Or maybe there is a folk tale about a platypus who owed a duck money.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 8:08 pm
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    Excellent geocentric observation, I need a.
    Who are you?
    Timmy?

    Also, who’s this Jes girl? I like her comments.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 9:01 pm
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    Sander stop hitting on my readers.

    Anita is a rockstar from Wisconsin, no relation to Timmy Baird.
    Jes is married.

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  • 7/12/2006 at 7:01 am
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    I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.

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