I have a young cousin — and I thank you, Andrew — who recently introduced me to the word “puggle” which I think is a fine word. It means baby platypus.
I see that dog breeders with too much time on their hands have also introduced a hybrid dog breed by the same name, but I will use the word as it should be used, to describe baby platypuses. If dog breeders want to cross pugs and beagles, let them find a new name for the result.
Having just learned the word, I was anxious for an opportunity to use it, but a blog about birds seemed an unlikely place. But today comes news from the science magazine Nature that scientists have successfully mapped the entire genome of the platypus. That is of interest to birders because some of the genes found in the platypus were, until now, known only in birds. Said differently, birds and platypuses are distant relatives, sort of like Andrew and I.
For instance, platypuses share with chickens a gene for a type of egg-yolk protein. Puggles are born from eggs; but treated to mothers’ milk, like mammals, as soon as they are born. They possess microRNAs which chickens have, plus different microRNAs which only mammals possess. And, unlike mammals, platypuses have two matches for what scientists call the ZPAX genes which, until now, had been found only in birds, fish and amphibians. These are the genes that determine the sex of puggles. Ten sets of chromosomes do that job instead of two which is enough for humans: An X and a Y result in a baby boy; two Xs result in baby girls.
Platypuses have X chromosomes, but they are much more like the Z chromosomes found in birds than the usual mammalian X. “The sex chromosomes are absolutely, completely different from all other mammals. We had not expected that,” said one of the scientists. And the Y chromosome, which platypuses possess, seems to have nothing to do with gender.
Platypuses are “monotremes.” (From the Greek monos ‘single’ + trema ‘hole’) Analogous to avian cloacas, they have but one opening for the intestinal, urinary, and genital tracts.
Platypuses are the oldest surviving branch of all mammals on the earth today. They got their start on the ancient continent of Gondwana which split into modern Australia and South America. Monotremes on South America died out but platypuses survive on the East coast of Australia and on Tasmania. They lay eggs, but make milk for their babies; they have fur coats and an aquatic life style; they forage for food underwater using an electro-sensory system in their duck-shaped bills. The males grow spurs on their rear legs which produce venom strong enough to kill dogs and incapacitate humans; a venom remarkably similar to that produced by venomous snakes.
To quote the scientists again, “There is nothing quite as enigmatic as a platypus.” But don’t take their word for it. Here is Odgen Nash on the subject:
The Platypus
I like the duck-billed platypus
Because it is anomalous.
I like the way it raises its family
Partly birdly, partly mammaly.
I like its independent attitude.
Let no one call it a duck-billed platitude.
___________________________
You can see video from Nature here and read newspaper articles here and here.
Tags: Add new tag, Avian Relatives, Platypus, Science
July 1, 2008 at 2:07 pm |
mothers who kill their babies…
How do you come up with so much material to blog with?…
August 11, 2008 at 8:30 am |
When I googled baby platypus this link came up first- http://www.australianfauna.com/platypus.php
“A baby platypus is not called a puggle, which seems to be a common misconception. There is no official name for a baby platypus, but a common suggested name is “platypup”.”
I think puggle is still a cuter name though.
November 8, 2008 at 1:42 pm |
I ABOUSOLUTLY ADORE PLATYPUS!!!
THEY ARE THE BEST ANIMALS IN THE HISTORY OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM!
GO SUPER CUTE PLATYPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
code
7421 = ²
456 = ╚
488 = Φ
477 = ▌
20 = ¶
10 = ◙
729 = ┘
9964 =∞
9964 = └
654789 = ┼
654987 = ï
654 = Ä
5816 = ╕
159 = ƒ
784 = ►
24475 = ¢
8426 = Ω
1937 = æ
8945 = ±
7887 = ╧
456654 = ╬
894 = ~
5914 = →
3737 = Ö
74159 = »
8429 = φ
7913 = Θ
14 = ♫
13 = ♪
12 = ♀
15=☼
9363 = ô
90517143 = ù
9494 = ▬
1456 = ░
1479 = ╟
700 = ╝
11 = ♂
165 = Ñ
9674 = ╩
7 = •
1=☺
2=☻
3=♥
6 = ♠
5 = ♣
4 = ♦
798 = ▲
132 = ä
779797 = §
979 = ╙
70584 = ╕
8077 = ì
9872 = É
951951=Å
2015 = ▀
794613 = ⌡
7946130 = Æ
computer is whack job and i cant fix it so thats all for now!
January 1, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
PLatypush!
i meant platyPUS but platyPUSH is cuter!
January 29, 2009 at 6:46 am |
Soooo Cute!!!
March 31, 2009 at 4:38 pm |
puggles are ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 7, 2009 at 9:51 am |
puggle is a word used by austriallians- it was/is a toy company that makes plush toys like beanie babies. austriallian scientists use the word but it is not colloqualism and more commonly understood in the west to be the breed of dogs poodle + pug
May 9, 2012 at 6:43 am |
*beagle + pug, not poodle…..
April 13, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
I love baby platypuses! . 🙂
April 19, 2009 at 5:46 pm |
Male platypus actually have toxins in their hind legs that will send you to the emergency room in excruciating pain. Don’t attempt to pet…
August 20, 2009 at 8:53 am |
Hey everyone,
You aren’t going to believe this. I found a couple that actually had a wedding in STAR WARS THEME!!! LMAO!! Click Here – Star Wars Wedding Pictures
October 17, 2009 at 4:29 am |
Thanks for explaining
November 4, 2009 at 7:39 am |
Just to clarify – a puggle is a baby echidna not a baby platypus
January 14, 2010 at 3:38 pm |
i thought a puggle was a pug-beagle crossbreed
January 19, 2010 at 4:58 am |
There is no official name for a baby platypus,
January 24, 2010 at 2:50 pm |
Foton kuşağı
uggle is a word used by austriallians- it was/is a toy company that makes plush toys like beanie babies. austriallian scientists use the word but it is not colloqualism and more commonly bursa otel There is no official name for a baby platypus, but a common suggested
January 25, 2010 at 7:52 pm |
Look, the word means what people use it to mean. So it refers to a baby platypus, a baby echidna, a crossbred dog, and a stuffed animal.
Let’s just focus on the fact that they’re all adorable and leave it at that.
February 14, 2010 at 6:22 am |
Thanks for publishing about this. There’s a heap of solid tech info on the internet. You’ve got a lot of that info here on your web site. I’m impressed – I try to keep a couple blogs reasonably current, but it’s a struggle sometimes. You’ve done a big job with this one. How do you do it?
April 8, 2010 at 9:36 am |
ı read your topic and the comments, ı think they are very nice
May 5, 2010 at 11:13 am |
Oooo. I love this Platys:)
But I dont understand İts Bird? or another animal.?
Regards.
July 18, 2010 at 8:40 am |
There is no official name for a baby platypus,
July 21, 2010 at 1:23 am |
The male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans.
Carlo Pagan
Pet Plush Toys
August 1, 2010 at 1:59 pm |
It’s really helpful, thanks for it.
August 13, 2010 at 4:52 pm |
There is no official name for a baby platypus,
August 16, 2010 at 4:42 pm |
Just to clarify – a puggle is a baby echidna not a baby platypus
September 22, 2010 at 7:18 pm |
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October 8, 2010 at 7:01 am |
Bubbles Thanks…
December 4, 2010 at 1:43 pm |
thank you for nice post.
keep going…
December 18, 2010 at 2:04 am |
Selam Gerçekten Güzel Ve Yararlı içerik Paylaşıyorsunuz… Teşekürler
February 7, 2011 at 1:23 pm |
ty very much
April 16, 2011 at 7:39 am |
good article 😉 =)
May 26, 2011 at 8:42 pm |
ITS SO CUTE! PUGGLE! PLATYPUS! IT LOOCKS LIKE A LITTLE BROWN BABY!
June 19, 2011 at 10:55 am |
thank you for nice post.
keep going…
July 4, 2011 at 5:39 am |
OMG—–LOVE THEM! They have to be the cutest things on earth!
July 4, 2011 at 5:40 am |
THEY ARE SO, SO, CUTE!
July 4, 2011 at 7:44 am |
Yes.I know that baby platypus’s and a hybrid dog (which would be a cross between a beagle and a pug) have the same name but that is not unexceptable.The creaters of the dog just decided to combine the pug and the beagle’s names.The were not trying to steal the name from which a baby platypus is called.The creaters may not even have been aware that “puggle” is the name for a baby platypus.The dog is called a puggle so you may call it whatever else you want but any other name that you call it will not be correct.
July 4, 2011 at 7:47 am |
I appoligize if this offends anyone but I am just saying the truth.And those photos are adorable!!Platypus’s are very interesting animals!!
October 5, 2011 at 1:07 pm |
10 teva הליקובקטר פילורי…
[…]Puggles « Fat Finch–Birds, Birding & Blogging[…]…
October 23, 2011 at 3:59 pm |
A puggle to most people… unlike you… is referenced as a dog. so no we wont find a new name for the puggles… thanks though. google a puggle it doesnt come up with very many platypus’ now does it? so you come up with a new name.
November 7, 2011 at 12:51 pm |
We’ll come up with a new name, but first you have to improve your grammar, spelling, and syntax.
June 10, 2012 at 6:47 pm |
Thank You
November 25, 2012 at 4:41 am |
thank you
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