The platypus has long been a source of wonder and confusion. With its mishmash of features – a duck bill, an otter’s body and fur, a beaver’s tail, and the ability to lay eggs like a reptile – it seems like a made-up creature. Its appearance alone can make it unique, but as modern science reveals, the platypus is even stranger than imagined.
These elusive creatures native to eastern Australia possess a venomous defense mechanism that has fascinated researchers for centuries. Male platypuses have half-inch spurs on their hind legs, each connecting to a crural gland that secretes a potent venom. Female platypuses, on the other hand, do not possess these spurs. Scientists believe the males use these spurs to fight over a mate during mating season.
While the venom isn’t lethal to humans, its effects are excruciatingly painful and resistant to conventional painkillers like morphine. According to a Vietnam War veteran, it is more painful than being hit by shrapnel. Worse, there is still no antivenom for platypus venom.
Scientists are still trying to figure out why this venom is so painful. They have found various components in the venom, such as a protein that resembles a neurotoxin and another that drops blood pressure, but they don’t have the entire picture yet. Another interesting question is why platypus venom has a similar toxin profile to reptile venom despite evolving independently.
Platypus venom holds great promise for medical research, particularly for new diabetes medications. Australian scientists have discovered that the venom contains a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which stimulates insulin release and could potentially aid in diabetes treatment. Unlike human GLP-1, which degrades rapidly, the platypus version is more stable, offering new avenues for medication development.