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The bill of the platypus is rubbery and sensitive, covered with soft, moist, leathery skin, not hard at all like a duck's. The bill contains an electro-receptor system. The platypus locates her prey underwater by using electroreceptors in her bill that sense the electric current of her prey, which creates these currents when it moves. The platypus finds its food this way because under water she must close her eyes, ears and nostrils. This is why the platypus is so good at hunting at night or in murky water. And since her nostrils are on top of her bill, she can breath if she swims on top of the water.

The platypus can spend on average 2-4 minutes below water.

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