The dog sniffing around near the river bank suddenly gives an excited bark. It makes a short dash and pounces on a small furry creature, which has the bill of a duck and the flat tail of a beaver. This odd-looking creature is a platypus-unfortunately for the dog, a male. The Platypus wriggles this way and that and then manages to jab the dog with the spurs on its hind legs. They deliver a powerful venom. Startled and in pain, the dog drops the platypus, which escapes into the river.
The platypus is the only mammal besides certain shrews that is venomous. But only the male is able to produce and deliver the poison, which can kill a dog and cause agonizing pain to human beings.
The platypus is almost unusual among mammals because it reproduces by laying and hatching eggs. When the young hatch, they feed on their mother's milk, like all mammals do. The only other mammals to lays eggs are the echidnas, which together with the platypus make up the animal order of monotremes.
The platypus is found in eastern Australia. It lives in burrows in the banks of rivers and lakes, spending much of its time in the water. Once hunted nearly to extinction for its fur, the platypus is now protected and thriving.
All shrews are _________ .
venomous animals
mammals
able to lay eggs
not in the order of monotremes