The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal that lays eggs, has fur, and sports a duck-like bill, a beaver-like tail, and otter-like feet. A spur on its rear foot delivers poisonous venom. Aboriginal Australians have long revered this rather strange and eclectic creature and have considered killing it taboo. A widely told story explains Aboriginal thinking about the platypus. Here is one version of that story.

The Platypus

(oral tradition recorded in twentieth century)

In the Dreamtime all the creatures on earth thought that they belonged to the most important group of creatures. Each group had their own special meetings…. The animals thought that they were the most special because they had fur on their bodies and could run across the land. The birds thought that they were even more special because they could fly and lay eggs. And the water creatures thought that they were even more special still because they could swim and explore all the water-ways on earth and because “there is more water than land anyway,” they said.

But then someone in each group remembered that shy Platypus belong to no group at all and each one of them resolved to ask Platypus to join their own Very Special Group…. [In response to each of these requests,] Platypus asked them to come back after he had thought about their offer.

Now Platypus asked his friends and family whose group he should join, but no one could help him…. After thinking hard about it for some time, Platypus called all the animals and bird and water creatures to his place. They all gathered around, all wondering which group Platypus would join. Platypus came out of his home, climbed a log and when all the creatures were quiet, Platypus spoke. “Thank you all for coming today. I have decided not to join any group at all.”

All the creatures were shocked. “You have to join someone’s group,” they cried.

“Please listen,” said Platypus patiently. “Everyone is special in their own special way, and I don’t have to join any group to prove that. After all, I have a bit of animal in me because of my fur and because I like running across the land, but I have a bit of bird in me too, because my wife lays eggs and we both have beaks. And if that’s not enough, I also have a bit of water creature in me because my home is near the water’s edge, and I like swimming and exploring the underwater world. So you see, I don’t have to join any special group to be special. But it’s not only me—every one of us has something that makes us special in our own very special way.”

All the creatures agreed and from that time onwards, Platypus has been considered very wise and very special indeed.

Source: Pauline McLeod, Aboriginal Art and Stories (Carlingford, New South Wales: Intechnics, 1994), http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11650463?q&versionId=45880979.