The life cycle of a Platypus

Platypuses are strange animals both adored and misunderstood by their many unique characteristics including otter-like feet, beaver tails, duck bills and venomous spurs. Their life cycle is equally interesting, as they are one of only five types of mammals to be born from an egg.

After mating, the female platypus will lay between one and three small eggs, similar to those of reptiles. The eggs develop inside of her body for about four weeks, then are laid in a dirt burrow for about 10 days. The incubation has three stages. In the first stage, the embryo relies on the yolk for sustenance. In the second stage, the embryo has fulled absorbed the yolk and begins to develop its limbs and digits. By the third stage, the platypus will begin to develop teeth.