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AnimalsSurprise 4/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

The platypus has hollow melanosomes, a unique feature among mammals.

Why it is true

Melanosomes are structures that contain melanin and give color to hair and feathers. In the platypus, they are spherical and hollow, something that had only been observed in birds. This discovery, published in the journal Biology Letters, shows that the platypus continues to surprise scientists.

Source: National Geographic

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