Platypuses have a superpower—they hunt using electricity! When diving underwater, they close their eyes, ears, and nostrils to keep water out, relying on their duck-like bill to find food. The bill is packed with thousands of electroreceptors that detect tiny electric currents made by the muscle movements of prey like insects, larvae, and shrimp. This lets them locate food in murky rivers and streams, even in complete darkness.
While hunting, platypuses scoop up prey along with gravel and mud, storing it in cheek pouches. Once they surface, they mash the mix with the gravel to “chew” since they don’t have teeth. They can stay submerged for a minute or two, swimming gracefully with webbed feet and a flat tail, but their natural buoyancy means they have to keep paddling to stay under. This electric sense, paired with their sensitive bill, makes them expert bottom feeders, spending 10 to 12 hours a day foraging in Australia’s freshwater systems.
Next time you think of a platypus, picture it hunting with electric senses—it’s a hidden talent that’s pure nature magic. Share this with your friends and come back for more on Platypusfacts!
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