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Adult males have a hollow, horny spur on the inner side of the hind leg, from which a toxic fluid is ejected and which may be used as a weapon of defense. The poison can kill a dog and cause extreme pain in people. During breeding season, males can fight each other and the venom in their spurs becomes more poisonous. The spurs show the sex and age of the platypus.


The platypus is the only Australian mammal that is venomous.

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