The Insane Biology of: The Platypus

Credits:
Narrator/Writer: Stephanie Sammann

Imagery courtesy of Getty Images

Music:
dancing-on-the-snow by anbr
we-are-ready by angel-salazar
still-life by anbr
organism by roie-shpigler
pebbles-dance by roie-shpigler
thin-air by roie-shpigler
little-touch-of-heaven by marco-martini

References:

[CDRaff]

I love that even the indigenous people from Australia, who already deal with tons of weird animals, were like: "Nah this little guy is too weird to be normal."

[meltedyakkystick]

Platypus is what you get when you let people create a custom character

[shortlytall]

The platypus is a monotreme: it lactates and lays eggs. That means it's one of the few animals that can make it's own custard.

[DrPotato]

He's a semi aquatic
Egg laying mammal of action
(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)
(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)
He's a furry little flatfoot
Who never flinched
From a fra-ee-ay-ee-ay (Fray)
He's got more than just mad skill
He's got a beaver tail and bill
And the women swoon
Whenever they hear him say
(Perry's sound)
He's Perry, Perry the platypus
(You can call him Agent P)
Perry
(I said you can call him Agent P)
Agent P
Agent P
Agent P

[dh]

Not to mention he could overthrow an "not really evil" professor

[furrtakuXD]

*lab assistant bringing platypus to frat party

"oh shit it glows"

[Mateo-klnn]

“A sixth sense that almost no other mammal has.”



I, a mammal, also have an electric bill

[otmarbenes]

12:58 I love how he angrily pushes the door away. "Stupid hooman inventions!"

[notamemethememe]

The echidna just walking around is absolutely freaking adorable

[RohitPant]

*2 more facts about the Platypuses:*
• _They used to be giants:_ The ancient versions of a lot of modern animals, including penguins, were oversized monsters compared to the animals we know today—and platypuses are no different. In 2013, the discovery of a single tooth helped researchers identify a prehistoric platypus that was more than three feet long—double the size of the modern animal.

• _They lack a stomach:_ Platypuses (platypodes and platypi are technically also correct, but much rarer in use) aren't the only animals to forgo an acid-producing part of the gut; spiny echidnas, and nearly a quarter of living fishes all have a gullet that connects directly to their intestines.

Good day!

[longboardfella]

Fun fact. I live in Melbourne and by using environmental DNA it’s been found the platypus is coming back to a number of rivers that are slowly being restored. Thanks for your great videos

[Isometrix]

That platypus is smaller than I expected

And less blue

And less of a secret agent

[ur-mom-gay]

platypuses are one of the coolest animals alive. I'm surprised we haven't hunted this thing to extinction yet

[ltings]

Please give us as many “the insane biology of” videos as possible!!

[harrietharlow]

I can see how a platypus could have been considered a fake at one time. What a fantastic animal. Thank you for uploading this.

[HienNguyenHMN]

"Platypus bills are SUPER sensitive to touch."
cut to: research roughly handling the bill to show how fleshy it is.

[jlglover]

"The Electric Bill". I see you there, lol.

[Think_Inc]

Hey, where’s Perry?
**sees this video**
Oh there you are Perry.

[shoesncheese]

"Where we're going, we won't need eyes to see" -- A Platypus

[chaseassaker]

"next time you pick up a platypus..." As if having to move platypi out of the way is an everyday occurrence for most of us lol