When thinking of a platypus, venom is not the thing that comes to most peoples’ minds. The platypus is the most venomous ...

Watch the Video Click here to watch on YouTube Australia is home to some truly unique and unexpected creatures, but few are quite as strange and fascinating as the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).

The platypus has a range of features that make it quite unlike any other animal. With a large bill, a paddle-like tail, webbed feet and a furry body, this funny-looking animal produces venom that ...

So, while co-opting these genes seems to be a common strategy for evolving venoms, the details of the gene duplications reveal that platypus venom and snake venom are independently derived features.

Watch the Museum's venom evolution expert, Dr Ronald Jenner, explore the toxic tactics of the platypus. Despite its odd look, the platypus is perfectly adapted to its environment. It has a furry, ...