The Platypus: Good For You

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Posted by Hemos on Monday February 17, 2003 @12:18AM from the thems-good-eatins dept.

egglayingmammalophile writes "Cute, webfooted, duck beaked, cold blooded, egg laying, electrosensitive and venomous, it didn't seem possible that they could get any weirder. But now the platypus is also good for you."

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3rd Grader's report by ralphb · 2003-02-17 00:45 · Score: 4, Informative

For a little background, check out my daughter's 3rd grade science report on the Platypus:

Dick-Billed Platypus
1. Re:3rd Grader's report by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 02:19 · Score: 0
  
  Uh... DUCK-billed. Really.
2. Re:3rd Grader's report by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 02:21 · Score: 0
  
  Best...troll...ever...
3. Re:3rd Grader's report by srussell · 2003-02-17 03:43 · Score: 1
  
  This was a great report! My girlfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed it -- we found it entertaining and educational. Good job!
4. Re:3rd Grader's report by PD · 2003-02-17 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  The plural of platypus is not platypi. It's platypusses.
  
  Other than that, very informative report.
  
  --
  If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
5. Re:3rd Grader's report by ralphb · 2003-02-17 07:12 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary online lists both "platypusses" and "platypi" as a valid plurals of "platypus".
  
  platypus
6. Re:3rd Grader's report by PD · 2003-02-17 07:20 · Score: 1
  
  You're right about that. Dictionary.com let me down!
  
  --
  If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
7. Re:3rd Grader's report by Myco · 2003-02-17 10:34 · Score: 1
  
  Please teach your daughter the difference between "its" and "it's." If you get them while they're young, they might retain it. Let's hope it's not too late for this one.
  
  --
  My deviantArt site
8. Re:3rd Grader's report by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 17:42 · Score: 0
  
  I doubt that. Most of the people I went to school with are still making the same damn mistakes that were covered way back in third grade.
9. Re:3rd Grader's report by hplasm · 2003-02-18 00:40 · Score: 1
  
  Platypaux.
  
  --
  ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
So who is going..... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 01:17 · Score: 0

....to register http://platypusse.cx/?
I cant be the only one... by Cyno01 · 2003-02-17 01:27 · Score: 4, Funny

who thought from the summary that is was about eating Platypi.

--
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
1. Re:I cant be the only one... by stef0x77 · 2003-02-17 05:15 · Score: 0, Redundant
  
  I hope that was a troll. But just for the record, it's platypuses.
2. Re:I cant be the only one... by tomzyk · 2003-02-24 09:54 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I'm right there with you.
  It just sounded like "they're good for you!" meant "it's chock-full of protiens, vitamins, minerals and all that good nutritional stuff!"
  
  --
  Karma: NaN
What the article is actually about... by Kopretinka · 2003-02-17 01:46 · Score: 4, Informative

So, in short the article is about a finding that platypus venom, a non-leathal poison, may lead to better painkiller drugs.
I thought the summary in the /. posting might say at least a word about that. 8-)

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Yesterday was the time to do it right. Are we having a REVOLUTION yet?
1. Re:What the article is actually about... by zelphi · 2003-02-17 03:06 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  But hey, that would've required actually reading the article before posting it. :-P
2. Re:What the article is actually about... by Kopretinka · 2003-02-17 04:46 · Score: 1
  
  Weeerl. In my endless idealism I assumed that the submitters read what they submit, even if I have long ago stopped believing the editors read it. 8-)
  
  --
  Yesterday was the time to do it right. Are we having a REVOLUTION yet?
What about other Platypus's reactions... by Dread_ed · 2003-02-17 03:33 · Score: 1

...to the venom.

I wonder if the venom affects them differently?

If pain and swelling lasts for months in humans, does it also in the paltypus?

If not, why? I suspect that the differences in the physiology of the platypus may help them to counteract the effects of the venom from other males. This might be important as well, ie. the study of how their tissues interact with the poison.

In other words, study what chemicals and proteins the paltypus uses to reeuce the swelling and pain caused by the venom.

--
When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
1. Re:What about other Platypus's reactions... by C21 · 2003-02-17 03:56 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I think the point of the venom is to "fend" off other males in mating season, as per the article. I guess this venom acts both locally (i.e. the longterm swelling) and in the brain (on the pain receptors). I'm also thinking the platypus gets a bit more of a shock than we do when the poison is released...but sometimes evolution just hasn't perfected it's defenses, this may just be one of those cases.
  
  --
  this is not a sig.
Cone Shells by Ratso+Baggins · 2003-02-17 04:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

This is not new, cone shells (a mollusck) can shoot out a spike and inject venom which WILL kill you in less than 10 secs (4?).
Scientists have seperated certain agents in the venom which, when grately diluted, are excellent pain killers for chronic pain, apparently with little or no habbit forming problems (don't they always say that)
Apparently this is a popular idea - treating chronic pain with venom derivatives.

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--
"we live in a post-ideological world..." - Billy Bragg.
1. Re:Cone Shells by rthille · 2003-02-18 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know, if I've got chronic pain, and I can take something to make it stop, I'm going to form a habbit to take it, reenforced by pain whenever I don't :-)
  
  --
  Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
Wasps by Scrameustache · 2003-02-17 04:11 · Score: 1

Some people with chronic arthritis sting themselves with wasps (or was it bees?) to take down the swelling.

I wonder if cobra spit is good for eye infections ;- )

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You can't take the sky from me...
This isn't the local news... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 04:48 · Score: 0

Why don't you... oh I dunno... TELL US why the platypus is good for you!

This "story" reminds me of my local news where they tell you part of the story, but you gotta stick around to find out why! Don't be like the rest of the toilet media in this world.

External link or no link, report the full story or at least a summary, or don't report anything at all.
Other Venomous Mammals by foote · 2003-02-17 05:34 · Score: 2, Informative

The article states that the platypus is the only venom-producing mammal. There are actually a few others.

The European water shrew and the North American short-tailed shrew are venomous. They use their poisonous bite to kill frogs, mice, and whatever other little creatures they eat. The bite of the solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) of Haiti is poisonous as well.
1. Re:Other Venomous Mammals by Bowling+Moses · 2003-02-17 09:51 · Score: 1
  
  Then there's also cats. The retractible claws are havens for all sorts of bacteria, a good fraction of which are opportunistic pathogens. Get scratched by a housecat, you get a bit of inflamation. Get mauled by a cougar, if it doesn't kill you outright you'll be on a heap of antibiotics from bacterial infections in your cuts and the infection still is supposed to be extremely nasty. While not strictly venemous, because of cat scratch fever big cats might as well be.
Not cold blooded by 0x0d0a · 2003-02-17 05:51 · Score: 3, Informative

The platypus is closer to having a cold-blooded metabolism than most mammals, but it's still warm-blooded, contrary to what the story submissions claims.

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May we never see th
Not the only poisonous mammals by automandc · 2003-02-17 06:16 · Score: 2, Informative

Interesting, but the Article is wrong in at least one respect: the Platypus is not the only mammal that produces venom.
According to this website, certain shrews produce venom. Also, the Cuban shrew-like animal Solenodons also produces venom in its mouth.
And, just to set the record straight, only male Platypii have venomous spurs. Lastly, Platypii are one of three still-living members of the mammalian subgroup known as "monotremes."
An excellent online resource for information about the animal kingdon is the University of Michgan's Animal Diversity Web.

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1. Re:Not the only poisonous mammals by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 11:43 · Score: 0
  
  Lastly, Platypii are one of three still-living members of the mammalian subgroup known as "monotremes."
  
  And finally, the plural of platypus is NOT platypii. It's of Greek origins, besides the fact that even if it were Latin there wouldn't be a double i.
2. Re:Not the only poisonous mammals by siskbc · 2003-02-18 04:40 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Interesting, but the Article is wrong in at least one respect: the Platypus is not the only mammal that produces venom.
  You've obviously not met my ex-girlfriend. Wait - snakes are reptiles. My bad.
  
  --
  -Looking for a job as a materials chemist or multivariat
Platypus wings... by Hubert_Shrump · 2003-02-17 06:26 · Score: 3, Funny

Hot and Spicy, or Extra Crispy?

Venom? No thanks. Well, on the side for my little girl.

--
Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
1. Re:Platypus wings... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-17 13:34 · Score: 0
  
  your sig... that is a fucking nerdly site if ever I saw one.
  someone needs to get laid, my friend!
Echidnas by Cyno01 · 2003-02-17 10:37 · Score: 1

Not truly venomous themselves, but Echidnas, or spiny anteaters(also natives of Au), are also quite posinous. They eat mostly toads, and when they do they rub the toads severed poisin glands all over their spines. Another interesting fact, they're the world only other monotreme(egg laying mammal) besides the Platypus.

--
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
1. Re:Echidnas by obtuse · 2003-02-17 16:52 · Score: 1
  
  And you can go pet one at the San Diego zoo.
  
  They have an Echidna in the petting zoo there. I visited it fairly often, and it was always curled up in the corner. I suppose they have it there because it's well protected & not aggressive.
  
  --
  Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.
Whuups by Cyno01 · 2003-02-17 10:41 · Score: 1

Echidnas are poisinous themselves, spurs like the platypus. Its hedgehogs that rub toad poisin on their spines.

--
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
I think you mean warm blooded... by qbed · 2003-02-17 13:54 · Score: 1

afterall monotremes are mammals too... :-)

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imagination is more important than knowledge --Albert Einstein-
That's not my wife... by Hubert_Shrump · 2003-02-17 14:05 · Score: 1

That's not my sig...
...That's my sourceforge project!

Which I think doubles the necessary lays.

Click your mouse if you want to go faster...

--
Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
Platypus Platter by Deflagro · 2003-02-18 07:02 · Score: 1

Nope, I honestly thought that the article was about eating the poor things. Though I wonder how it would be prepared and how it would taste. Little Duck a l'orange with beaver sauce? Now I'm curious.

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Der Tod ist der einzige Weg hier raus!
platypi(i), viri(i) by g4dget · 2003-02-18 08:35 · Score: 1

Folks, it's platypuses and viruses. "Platypus" is derived from Greek, and "virus" is derived from a fourth declension noun, whose nominative plural in Latin ends in "-us", not "-i".
1. Re:platypi(i), viri(i) by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-19 05:07 · Score: 0
  
  No, no, everyone knows the plural of platypus is platipusii. :p
Huh? by gene_tailor · 2003-02-20 21:30 · Score: 1

The source article says >"... the platypus version comes in two forms. A small part of the protein in one form is present as the mirror image of its counterpart"
Can anybody translate this a into scientifically meaningful statement? I know about chirality, are they saying that one form is made of L-amino acids? Or is it just something like alpha helices that pair up and the reporter didn't know how to describe it?

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