Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, aquatic, egg-laying mammal: The duck-billed platypus is a unique, semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is known for its distinctive broad, flat bill resembling a duck's, a beaver-like tail, and webbed feet. It is one of the few extant monotremes, or egg-laying mammals.

Usage

• The word "duck-billed platypus" is used as a singular, countable noun. It is the common name for the species .
• It is typically used in scientific, zoological, and general descriptive contexts to refer to this specific animal.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The duck-billed platypus is an iconic Australian animal.
  • We were lucky to see a duck-billed platypus swimming in the creek.
  • The duck-billed platypus uses electroreception in its bill to locate prey.

Advanced Usage

• "Platypus": Often used as a shortened, more common form of "duck-billed platypus."
  • The platypus is a monotreme.
• In taxonomic or formal contexts, the full binomial name is used.

Variants and Related Words

• Platypus (n): The common short form for "duck-billed platypus."
• Ornithorhynchus anatinus (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the species.
• Monotreme (n): The order of egg-laying mammals that includes the platypus and echidnas.

Synonyms

• Platypus: The most direct and commonly used synonym.
• Watermole (archaic/regional): An older or less common name.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using "duck-billed platypus." It is primarily a technical/descriptive term.

Noun

1. small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae