Platypus

When this mammal was first brought back to England, it was thought to be a taxidermist's joke. Proved later to be a real animal, the platypus has a duck-like bill and flippers on its small, furry body.

Basic Facts:
Being only one of two Australian monotremes (the other the echidna), the platypus is certainly a unique mammal. A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs. Like all mammals, though, it feeds its young on milk.
The platypus lives on in burrows on creek banks, and it finds its food in the creek. They are nocturnal, and usually feed at dusk. The platypus's bill is highly sensitve, it uses it to detect its prey; yabbies, worms and insects. While underwater, a platypus closes its eyes and ears, making them water tight.
Platypus's aren't big creatures, males are about 50cm long and weigh up to 2000 grams. The male platypus has a poisonous spur underneath its tail, used to fight off other males.
Females lay 1-3 eggs at a time, and she incubates them by pushing them aginst her stomach with her tail.

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Reference: The Healesville Sanctuary Book