Why do male platypus have a poisonous spike on their ankles?

Why do male platypus have a poisonous spike on their ankles?

Males have a spur on the back of their hind feet that is connected to a venom-secreting gland. More venom is secreted during mating season, leading researchers to think that the spurs and venom help males compete for mates, according to the Australian Platypus Conservatory.

Do male platypus have poisonous spurs?

Male platypuses have a spur on the inner side of each ankle that is connected to a venom gland located over the thighs. The spurs can be wielded in defense, and the venom is potent enough to kill small animals and cause intense pain in humans if the spur…

Where are male platypuses have poison on their hind legs These are glands in the thighs and the heel the sting is not dangerous to humans but it extremely painful?

The venom is made in venom glands that are connected to hollow spurs on their hind legs; it is primarily made during the mating season. While the venom’s effects are described as extremely painful, it is not lethal to humans.

Do female platypus have spikes?

The male platypus has a spur on either hind foot that excretes venom. Though females are also born with the spurs, they fall off before adulthood. Apparently, the venom isn’t meant to kill other males, only to provide for a rousing fight.

What is poisonous on a platypus?

Duck-billed platypus have venom glands connected to a spur on each of their hind legs. Yep, a spur – it kinda looks like a really scary claw. And you’ll only find these spurs on males.

Why do platypus have spurs on their hind limbs?

Platypus venom. Males have a pair of spurs on their hind limbs that secrete venom that is only seasonally active to breeding season, supporting the theory that the use of venom is for competition of mates only, not protection. While the spur remains available for defense outside of breeding season, the platypus’s venom gland lacks secretion.

What kind of venom does a platypus have?

Venom from platypus spurs probably won’t kill you, but it could make you cry. As if egg-laying, nippleless nursing and electroreception in a mammalian species weren’t enough for you to wrap your mind around, the platypus has one more curve ball to toss your way. The male platypus has a spur on either hind foot that excretes venom.

What happens if you get stung by a platypus?

Platypus venom probably won’t kill you, but it will cause swelling at the wound site and extreme pain that could last for weeks [source: Day ]. Platypus venom shares some molecules also found in reptile venom, but researchers determined that the platypus’ poison capacity evolved separately [source: Whittington et al ].

What kind of animal has a spur on its hind legs?

The male of this species has a spur on its hind legs that releases a venom which can cause intense pain. In addition to the platypus, other mammal species that also have the ability to produce and inject venom include shrews, water shrews and solenodons.