Diseases play a natural role in wildlife population control. Naturally existing diseases can apply natural selection pressures on individuals in a population and weed out individuals that are less fit. Bowden, Idaho The duck-billed platypus is a remarkable animal and is most closely related to the echidna. Both are egg-laying mammals in the order Monotremata. There is only one single living genus and species of platypus, and it is only found in Australia.
Echidnas occur in Australia, Tasmania and Papua New Guinea.
Their habitat is fresh water lakes and lagoons, where they feed on crustaceans, water insects, tadpoles, snails and small fish. They are active in early morning and late evening. Their eggs, which are laid in banks along the water's edge, hatch after only 10 days of incubation by the female. The male duck-billed platypus has hollow spurs in the ankles of both hind limbs that are connected to venom glands. The venom can be injected into other animals through the spur.