Platypus poison spurs
Finishing off the posts about monotremes, we have the poisonous spurs
of the duck-billed platypus, the only known venomous mammal in
Australia. All adult males have a spur located above the heel which
receives venom from the crural gland in its thigh, peaking production
during the breeding season. For this reason it is assumed that the main
purpose of the spike is mainly used for
competing for mates or breeding territories. However, that doesn't mean
that they won't use them for defense as well. In fact, back when
platypus were hunted for their fur, dogs were sometimes found dead after
going into the water to retrieve a wounded platypus.
The venom
produced is quite unique as well, as it acts on pain receptor cells,
which makes it a viable candidate for creating a new type of painkiller.
What about the other extant monotreme: the echidna? It's got a spike too on its ankle but lacks the gland to produce venom.
http://
Platypus poison spurs
Finishing off the posts about monotremes, we have the poisonous spurs of the duck-billed platypus, the only known venomous mammal in Australia. All adult males have a spur located above the heel which receives venom from the crural gland in its thigh, peaking production during the breeding season. For this reason it is assumed that the main purpose of the spike is mainly used for competing for mates or breeding territories. However, that doesn't mean that they won't use them for defense as well. In fact, back when platypus were hunted for their fur, dogs were sometimes found dead after going into the water to retrieve a wounded platypus.
The venom produced is quite unique as well, as it acts on pain receptor cells, which makes it a viable candidate for creating a new type of painkiller.
What about the other extant monotreme: the echidna? It's got a spike too on its ankle but lacks the gland to produce venom.
http://
Finishing off the posts about monotremes, we have the poisonous spurs of the duck-billed platypus, the only known venomous mammal in Australia. All adult males have a spur located above the heel which receives venom from the crural gland in its thigh, peaking production during the breeding season. For this reason it is assumed that the main purpose of the spike is mainly used for competing for mates or breeding territories. However, that doesn't mean that they won't use them for defense as well. In fact, back when platypus were hunted for their fur, dogs were sometimes found dead after going into the water to retrieve a wounded platypus.
The venom produced is quite unique as well, as it acts on pain receptor cells, which makes it a viable candidate for creating a new type of painkiller.
What about the other extant monotreme: the echidna? It's got a spike too on its ankle but lacks the gland to produce venom.
http://
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