What on earth is a platypus? Even its name seems strange. When Europeans first heard the startling news of a newly discovered creature called the “platypus,” most of them thought it was just a joke.

The platypus is one of the most unique animals in the world. It’s a mammal, but it lays eggs. It has webbed feet, a beaver-like tail, and an otter-like snout and bill that helps it locate food ...

Adult males measure 15.7 to 24.8 inches long from the tip of their bill to the tip of their tail and weigh 1.7 to 6.6 pounds. Females are smaller than males, measuring 14.5 to 21.6 inches in length ...