
Scientists have experimented on this venom to understand its nature. On the other hand, the females have spur buds that are rudimentary, and they usually fall off by the time they reach one year old. Once the spur enters the victim's body, it has to be removed manually. When they are fighting amongst themselves during the mating season or defending themselves, they move these spurs at a right angle and then sting. These spurs usually lie flat on the hindlimbs of the male platypus. These are connected to the sharp spurs they have on their hindlimbs. Only the males of these animals possess the venom in two alveolar glands that are shaped like kidneys. This spur is movable, and all platypus sting their predators with them. The gland is connected to two calcaneus spurs on their hindlimbs with thin-walled ducts. The venom of the male platypus resides in the crural glands. There is no anti-venom for platypus venom, but if humans get stung, they need to go to the doctor as soon as possible, and they will start the treatment according to the symptoms. The victim complained about having pain in the area after around four months, and even after 15 years, he reported having stiffness and discomfort in the area when he carried out any physical activity. Severe swelling starts to appear within a matter of time. Only local anesthesia works at that time. The pain doesn't go away with morphine or any other painkillers. The retired soldier described extreme pain that was worse than shrapnel wounds he had experienced before. In 1991, a former Australian army member, Keith Payne, was stung by a platypus when he was trying to rescue a stranded platypus. According to those few reports, it's been noticed that after the humans get stung by the animal, they develop hyperalgesia, meaning there is an abnormal amount of sensitivity to pain around the place they had been stung for about the next few days to a few weeks on average. There have been very few records of the platypus stinging humans. In fact, even though they develop the venom to establish dominance during mating season, they still don't use it as an offensive weapon on other males. It has been reported that a platypus has enough venom to paralyze a small animal, but the venom is not lethal enough to kill a human. Does a platypus have enough venom to kill a human? They don't even use it for hunting prey they preferably use it with the means to harm only when they feel threatened. However, the males don't kill each other with venom they rather use it to stir the fighting and to control territory at times. It's pretty easy to assume that they use it to fight amongst themselves to get the attention of the females. It's worth mentioning that the breeding season of the species occurs during spring as well. It's been noticed that the male platypus develops more venom during the spring. The male platypus probably uses the venom when they are fighting amongst themselves or protecting themselves. Scientists are still trying to figure out how they evolved. The platypuses are a wonder in themselves as they have features of mammals, reptiles, and birds. There's a spur on the back of the hindlimbs of the males where the venom-secreting gland is mainly found. Now the venom is found only on the hindlimbs of the male platypus. This odd-looking animal has a broad body, a bill similar to a duck, a flat tail, webbed feet, and dense brown fur, which is bifluorescent. This semi-aquatic mammal is endemic to eastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania. Platypuses are one of the very few mammals that lay eggs to give birth.

The platypus, also known as the duck billed platypus, is the single species found in their family Ornithorhynchidae and genus Ornithorhynchus. Incidentally, no special names have been allotted to the male and female of the species. The females have not been found with venoms as of yet. Yet, you would not think that mammals would have venom, but along with solenodons and shrew, platypuses have venom, specifically the male platypus. Many amphibians and reptiles have venoms. Read on to know more about the venom of platypus and if you like this article, then also check out frog skeleton and kitten and puppy. This is a way of communication for these animals. The males use this spur when they fight amongst themselves to rouse the fight. They are rather solitary animals, so communication between them has not been observed much. Only the male platypuses have venomous spurs. These animals possess the kind of venom that can be pretty dangerous, but the good news is that it is not life-threatening to humans. In other words, this mammal gives birth to its young ones by laying eggs. Platypuses are egg laying mammals endemic to Australia. Platypus or the duck billed platypus is one of the very few venomous mammals.
