Males can use their venomous spurs as a defense against predators, but the primary purpose is for fighting other males during mating season. There’s no antivenin available for platypus stings, so it wouldn’t be a good idea to try to handle a live male platypus! He couldn’t use his hand properly for three months. The patient spent six days in hospital, and his hand remained painful and swollen, with little mobility, for three weeks. Afterwards, narcotics were required for several days. The only thing that stopped the pain was a nerve blocker. Even narcotics administered intravenously at the hospital proved inadequate. The pain was so intense that first aid could not help. 1992) of a 57-year-old man who was stung on the right hand by both spurs of a male platypus. Hind foot of male platypus with the venomous spur.

The venom causes excruciating local pain in humans, although there’s no record of a human dying from a platypus sting. There’s enough venom in a platypus spur to kill small animals, perhaps even dogs although this has not been well-documented. The male platypus is one of the few venomous mammals alive today, with a spur on each hind foot connected to a gland that produces toxic venom. Platypus Males Have Venom, but Can They Kill You? Male platypuses have venomous spurs - a secret weapon that must have made a painful impression on the first Westerners who tried to handle one. You might be fortunate to see a platypus in the wild if you spend enough time in its native habitat along the rivers of eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Platypuses are perfectly adapted to life in rivers and streams with their webbed feet, flat tails, and water-repellant fur.

These weird mammals also have electrical receptors for finding prey, hard plates instead of teeth, and duck-like bills. Platypuses are mammals, although they lay eggs instead of bearing young live and produce milk without having nipples. Platypus males have venomous spurs on their hind feet with enough venom to kill small animals and cause excruciating pain in humans. Let’s dive into some of the mysteries surrounding this small, venomous, egg-laying mammal!

The duck-billed platypus is often considered the most unique and bizarre mammal on the planet with some of the most unusual adaptations you will find anywhere. We’ve had the good fortune of sitting quietly and watching wild platypuses swimming and feeding in their native habitat in Eungella National Park, Australia.

Duck billed platypus venom