Platypus Webbed Feet — Reading Comprehension

Imagine an animal with a duck's bill, a beaver's tail, and webbed feet! This amazing creature is the platypus. Platypuses are unique mammals found in Australia. They spend a lot of their lives in the water, and their bodies have special parts that help them survive there.

One of the most important features of a platypus is its webbed feet. Just like a duck, the skin between their toes connects to form a paddle. This external structure is perfectly designed for powerful swimming. When a platypus swims, it uses its front webbed feet to push through the water. The webbing spreads out, giving them a larger surface area to propel themselves forward quickly.

These webbed feet are not just for swimming. They also help the platypus find food. Platypuses are foraging animals, meaning they search for their meals. They hunt for insects, worms, and small crustaceans at the bottom of rivers and streams. Their webbed feet help them dig into the mud and stir up the riverbed, making it easier to catch their prey. This behavior is essential for their survival.

When a platypus is on land, the webbing on its front feet can actually fold back. This allows the platypus to walk more easily and to use its claws for digging burrows. So, their webbed feet are truly multi-functional! They are a perfect example of how an animal's body parts, or structures, help it to live, eat, and move in its habitat.

Interesting Fact: A platypus is one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Where are platypuses found?

What is a platypus's external structure for swimming?

How do webbed feet help a platypus find food?

Why is the platypus called a 'multi-functional' animal?

What does 'foraging' mean based on the passage?

If a platypus didn't have webbed feet, how would its life be different?

Platypus webbed feet can fold back on land.

Which animal structure is most similar to platypus webbed feet?