| Fat Chance For Thin Times
No doubt about it, the duck-billed Platypus is one odd looking animal, or more specifically, mammal. First there is the bill, which is not the same structure as a duck's, it just looks the same, hence the name. It's actually an elongated, flattened nose full of sensitive nerve endings. The shape and strength of it, allows the Platypus to root about in the sand at the bottom of their river environment, so they can dig out the shellfish, worms and insect life that they live on.
The bill attaches to a head proportionate to their body size, but one that is crammed full of brains, something that has puzzled scientists for decades, because in the studies that have been carried out, the Platypus demonstrates very low intelligence. It is theorized that the extra brain matter/circuits exist simply to power certain functions, as they have no ability to reason, guess, or be creative in anything, including seeking food.
The head goes directly into its body, with no evidence of a neck structure, which makes it look even odder. Then at the other end, is a relatively large, flat tail. Given that the Platypus only ranges from 1-4.5 lbs. and up to 16 inches in length, the size of the tail was also puzzling, until researchers discovered that it serves as a repository for up to 50% of their body fats, on the off chance that pickings become slim, and their food supply is reduced.
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