This is so good, with video link. Whilst undertaking some natural area restoration work on an adjoining property, I watched two of these wonderful mammals swimming along the banks of our creek. Endemic to Australia, platypus, are one of the five existing species of monotremes, who are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
fauna

Nearly extinct lizard's venom safely treats diabetes
(via www.nature.org)
The Guatemalan beaded lizard is rumored to be evil, but its venom now used as an effective treatment for diabetes. Too bad there's only 200 of these mythic lizards left in the wild. Is there still time to save this endangered species so that it can help save us?
Submitted by jcolman on Tue, 2007-09-18 10:05. | Tags: science | animal | animals | biodiversity | diabetes | endangered species | environment | extinct | extinction | fauna | guatemala | health | international | lizard | lizards | Nature | nature conservancy | science | the nature conservancy | tnc | wildlife