The platypus faces several limiting factors in its environment. [1] It has many predators that it must defend against, so it evolved to secrete venom from spurs on its hind limbs, making it one of the few venomous mammals. [2] As a mammal that lives in an aquatic environment, it developed physical adaptations like webbed feet, fur to stay dry and warm, and a bill to locate food underwater without sight or hearing. [3] These adaptations allow it to thrive despite the challenges of predators and living in the water.

1. The Platypus.
By: Tyler Williams and Steven Carr

2. The Duck Billed Platypus
• Otherwise known as the Ornithorhynchus
anatinus, is said to be one of the strangest
mammals to exist.

3. Limiting Factor #1
• The first limiting factor for the Platypus is predation
• The platypus has many predators in the wild including snakes,
water rats, goannas, spotted quolls, eels, hawks, owls and
eagles.
• Croc idles are also a possible predator but only in the
Northern region of Australia

4. Limiting Factor Adaptation #1
• With so many predators, naturally, the Platypus needs a way
to defend itself against them. The Platypus is one of the very
few mammals that produces venom as a defense mechanism.
• The male Platypus produces venom through a kidney shaped
glad in it’s upper thigh called the alveolar gland. The male has
spurs on their hind limbs which is how they excrete the
venom.
• Although not lethal, Platypus venom can cause excruciating
pain for months in humans and animals. It’s reported that
even morphine can’t lesson the pain of the venom.

5. Limiting Factor #2
• The platypus, being a mammal, needed to
make many physical adaptations in order to
thrive in it’s water environment. After these
adaptations the Platypus seems almost
perfectly designed for underwater life.

6. Limiting Factor Adaptations #2
• The first adaptation the Platypus went through to thrive in its’
environment is it’s webbed feet and flat tail. The Platypuses
flat tail acts as a stabilizing and steering rudder underneath
the water and webbed feet for propulsion underwater
• The second adaptation is the platypuses thick layers of fur.
The outer layer acting as a water seal and second adding as
insulation for warmth.
• The third adaptation is the Platypuses 'bill. It’s used for both
locating and digesting food underwater but also, due to touch
and electroreceptors, able to navigate underwater without
the use of eyes or ears.

7. Works Cited
• Animal Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.
• "How Does a Platypus Adapt for Survival?" WikiAnswers.
Answers, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.
• "OMG Facts - Platypus Venom Can Have You in Excruciating
Pain for Months! Even Morphine Doesn't Work against It!"
RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.
• "Platypus Venom." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan.
2013. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.
• "What Adaptations Do the Platypus Take in Its Environment?"
- Yahoo!7 Answers. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013
• Google