QuickCheck: Can a platypus glow in the dark?
By AINA IZHAM || THE STAR
WHEN you think of animals that glow in the dark, you might guess fireflies, jellyfish, or some other marine creature.
But what about a platypus? Have you ever imagined a land mammal glowing in the dark?
Do they even do that?
Verdict:
TRUE
Yes, aside from "sweating" milk and not having a stomach, the next best thing about platypuses is that they glow in the dark.
Scientists have found that under ultraviolet (UV) light or black light, platypus fur gives off a green-blue glow, a trait called biofluorescence that’s rare in mammals.
It might seem like a wild party trick, but it could actually be a stealth adaptation.
The glow may help camouflage platypuses from predators during their active hours at dawn and dusk, when UV light is most abundant in the environment.
So, if you ever get the chance to see a platypus in person (ethically and legally, of course), bring a UV light. You just might witness their hidden, otherworldly glow for yourself!
Source: quickcheck-can-a-platypus-glow-in-the-dark
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