These crural glands produce a sticky venom made up of complex chemicals. When a platypus feels threatened, it will stab its spurs into its attacker and inject this toxic venom. Fortunately for ...

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

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, ...

Mr Walsh said platypus spurs and venom were some of his favourite “gadgets” as well as heat exchanging blood vessels that allow the monotreme to be in freezing waters all day. “I could last ...