From its duck-like bill to its venomous spur, the platypus is one of the strangest animals on Earth. Discover the bizarre ...

One hormone found in platypus venom, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), plays a role in increasing insulin and regulating blood ...

Platypus venom is not life-threatening to humans or other platypuses, but it can cause intense pain and swelling in the part of the body where someone is spurred.

2. Platypuses Are Venomous Mammals . Very few mammals are venomous. It's weird enough that the male platypus delivers venom, but that he does it through ankle spurs makes it even more curious.

The platypus, a native of eastern Australia, is a puzzling creature with features from birds, mammals, and reptiles. Male platypuses possess a venomous spur, primarily used during breeding season.

A 1992 case report tells the story of a 57-year-old man in Australia who was struck by platypus venom while fishing in North Queensland, causing “immediate, sustained, and devastating” pain ...

Platypuses are one of the few venomous mammals. Males possess a horny spur on their ankles, which is connected to a venom gland in the upper leg. The venom can cause severe pain to humans.

Platypus venom is not lethal to humans (or other platypuses), but it can cause swelling and severe pain. Black mamba (Image credit: Joe McDonald/Getty Images) ...

Venom can be transferred in many ways, including through spines, stingers or claws. Unlike many venomous animals' teeth, which are hollow, shrews' teeth feature a groove along their sides, acting as a ...

You might know the platypus as Australia's iconic shy, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying mammal. Unfortunately, the odd animal is also struggling to survive. This is why ...