3 S.R. Johannes: More than One Platypus = Platypi

Friday, October 10, 2008

More than One Platypus = Platypi

Two posts in one day? My hubby has the kids today so i guess blogging is what I consider a break - keeps me writing and gives me a "time-out" all at once.

I don't know why but I have been obsessing about the platypus lately. My daughter was watching Bindi - The Jungle Girl and Bindi was talking about the platypus.


I realized I have not thought about the platypus in years - I am talking at least 20 years.

When was the last time you thought about the platypus?

So I did some research and realize I am in love with these little creatures. (which maybe short-lived since last year it was Seahorses :)

Did you know that a platypus is a "semi-aquatic, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, the only egg-laying , electroreception (whatever that means) mammal, that also has milk ducts to feed their young!!??

say what?!!!

ok - what was the universe smokin' that day?

And venomous - seriously? Evidently "the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans."


They are also only found in Australia - crikey!

So these little creatures - with an obvious identity crisis brewing just under the surface - can actually hurt you.
What does this have to do with writing? Absolutely nothing.!

Just that the world is a crazy and beautiful place.

Note: the picture file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License (cc-by-sa-2.0).

10 comments:

Laini Taylor said...

So bizarre! It's been a while since I gave any thought to the platypus. Definitely one of Earth's stranger ideas!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

Thanks for coming Laini :)

Wyman Stewart said...

It has long been rumored that the duck-billed platypus was put together by a committee; probably by the same committee that gave us the word committee, for ko-mit-e is really much easier.

Excuse me now, I have a duck-billed platypi committee meeting to attend on whether to adopt the slogan "Platypus Is Us" to market their little known existance. Bye, gotta run!

Anonymous said...

I thought platypi were extinct! No wait, that must be the do-do bird. I love the commentabout the playtipus was put together by the same people who came up with the spelling of the word committee...

Anonymous said...

I love seahorses too! Does the GA Aquarium have them? It's been a while since I've been...

Anonymous said...

Who is Bindi? Isn't that the little mark Hindus wear on their foreheads? Oh wait, is that the daughter of the guy who died by stingray?

Anonymous said...

Dang, a spur on the hind foot that delivers venom. That would be tough if it was like my daughter who at least once a day stomps her foot in anger at me...

Unknown said...

Crikey? Hilarious! What about the komodo dragon... now that is a fascinating creatures!

Who the hell is "A"? He is all over your blog. He is serious competition. Is he so far ahead of me?

Carrie Harris said...

Hah! I never knew that the platypus was venomous, either. I bet God did it that way so the platypus could poison all the other animals that laughed at him. ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, "A" is me, Vicky Alvear Shecter. I'm so clueless electronically, I couldn't figure out how to get my own gmail so was using my daughter's--hence the "A." That alone should tell you why I'm so desperate for web help! ;o)