The platypus is endemic to eastern Australia, and Tasmania. It is one of the oddest animals in existence. It’s a duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying mammal. It also happens to be one of the few venomous mammals. The males have a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. It’s a carnivore. It feeds on worms, insect larvae, freshwater shrimp, and freshwater yabby (Australian crayfish). It spends most of its time in the water looking for food. It must eat about 20% of it’s body weight each day. When not in the water, they stay in short burrows, which are generally close to the water and often under a protective tangle of roots. They average between 17-20″ in length and weigh between 1.5-5.3 lbs.