Animal Senses

When it comes to odd animals, few have the duck-billed platypus beat. It is a mammal and like, most other mammals, is vertebrate (an animal with a backbone) covered in hair. However, it does have some non-mammal characteristics, like its beak-shaped mouth and ability to lay eggs. That's right, platypuses belong to a group of egg-laying mammals called monotremes. Males compete for mates using venomous spurs on their back feet. About a month after breeding, females lay 1 to 3 eggs deep in a burrow; they hatch about 10 days later.

Platypuses also have specialized senses. Like other monotremes and even sharks and stingrays, platypuses can detect changes in electrical fields around them using specialized organs on their bill. As platypuses hunt for worms, shrimp, and insect larva in murky waters, their ability to sense electrical fields allows them to detect prey without using sight or smell! Anytime a small organism moves, they can detect it with their specialized bills.

Sea turtles are one of just 4 reptiles that spend time in the ocean and they constantly amaze scientists with their abilities. Sea turtles can hold their breath for long periods of time while they feed and travel. They use their large, boney shells to protect themselves from predators like tiger sharks. They even use the Earth's magnetic field to figure out where they are going! Female sea turtles may cross the entire ocean to return to the beach where they were born when it comes time to lay eggs. Once sea turtle eggs hatch, they rely on a very important sense to direct them to the ocean - sight! Using natural light reflected from the ocean, sea turtle hatchlings make their way to the sea.

However, with the human population growing and beach-front living becoming more popular, there is more light pollution from street lights, homes, and cars than ever before! To help protect sea turtles, make sure when you visit the beach, you limit the amount of light you produce, especially at night.