Page 67 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals
P. 67
DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS 67
ORDER Monotremata / FAMILY
Key Facts Ornithorhyncidae / GENUS & SPECIES
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Weight 0.7–2.4kg (1.5–5.3lb)
Length Males: average 50cm (19.7in)
Females: average 47 cm (18.5)
Sexual maturity 2 years
Breeding season June–October but varies across range
Number of eggs 1–3
Incubation period 10 days
Breeding interval 1–2 years
Typical diet Insect larvae, fish and amphibians
Lifespan Up to 11 years in the wild;
17 in captivity
(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.
