The Platypus: Good For You

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."

Comments

3rd Grader's report

[ralphb]

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

Dick-Billed Platypus

Re:3rd Grader's report

[ralphb]

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary online lists both "platypusses" and "platypi" as a valid plurals of "platypus".

platypus

I cant be the only one...

[Cyno01]

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

What the article is actually about...

[Kopretinka]

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-)

Re:What the article is actually about...

[zelphi]

But hey, that would've required actually reading the article before posting it. :-P

Re:What about other Platypus's reactions...

[C21]

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.

Cone Shells

[Ratso Baggins]

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.

Other Venomous Mammals

[foote]

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.

Not cold blooded

[0x0d0a]

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.

Not the only poisonous mammals

[automandc]

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.

Re:Not the only poisonous mammals

[siskbc]

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.

Platypus wings...

[Hubert_Shrump]

Hot and Spicy, or Extra Crispy?

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