Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does a male platypus use its ankle spurs?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
platypus
The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), or duckbill, is common in the waterways of eastern Australia.
Male platypuses possess a spur on the inner side of each ankle, which is connected to a venom gland located over the thighs. These spurs serve two primary purposes:1
- Defense: The spurs can be wielded as a defensive mechanism. The venom is potent enough to kill small animals and can cause intense pain in humans if the spur penetrates the skin.1
- Intraspecific Conflict: During the breeding season, males often fight one another, using their sharp ankle spurs to inflict wounds on their rivals.1