🐾Animals
The Platypus Is One of Few Venomous Mammals
Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs, capable of delivering a painful sting, primarily used during mating season fights.
About this fact
The platypus is a unique creature in many ways, and one of its most surprising features is its venom. Male platypuses possess sharp spurs on their hind ankles connected to venom glands. This venom is potent enough to cause severe pain in humans and can be lethal to smaller animals. The venom is primarily used by males during mating season to compete with rivals, not for hunting or defense against predators.