Jack Ashby

So they're fighting each other and envenomating each other because if it were used for defence, we'd expect the females to be venomous too, but they are not.

That's such an odd thing to say.

It's extraordinary.

I was about to say the venom is unlike any other venom on Earth, but the opposite is true.

The cocktail is unlike anything else on Earth, but actually they've evolved venom that is almost – they've got maybe 20 or so different venom compounds –

But each of those compounds have evolved convergently with the venom that's seen in centipedes, frogs, fishes, snakes, spiders, jellyfish.

So they've kind of got the best bits of venom from the animal kingdom.

And of course, this isn't how evolution works.

They've taken them together and made a super cocktail.

And not many people have recorded being stung by a platypus.

Those that have done have described an excruciating pain that can last for months, literally months, and then muscle wastage that goes on for decades.

So people have been unable to regain movement for, you know, I think one report I can think of that can specify a natural number is 15 years.

still couldn't move their hands properly.

And that is because one of these compounds is extraordinarily stable.

So it just doesn't break down.

And that may be why platypus venom lasts so long.

So yes, in answer to your question, those compounds could be potentially very useful for pain reduction and just how do pain receptors work in humans.

Yeah, so it happened a while ago.

It probably happened about 50 million years ago, but echidnas evolved from a platypus ancestor.

The oldest fossil we have, I think, is only 15 million years, but genetics suggest 50 million.