Viral Picture Of 'Baby Platypus' Isn't Actually A Baby Platypus
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Unless you happen to be big into your juvenile semi-aquatic egg-laying mammals, then the chances are you've probably never seen a baby platypus before.
It's this lack of baby platypus savviness that caused social media to become awash with both shock and delight over the past few days after a picture purportedly depicting a baby platypus went viral.
The reason it went viral is because it is damn cute, and people felt obliged to share the revelatory photo far and wide:
Just in case you needed to see a baby platypus today. I did but didn't even know it. :heart_eyes: pic.twitter.com/RHPEnm3vuj
- FrogDoc (@TueborFrog) February 13, 2020
I think a baby platypus is the closest we're going to get to a baby Yoda. pic.twitter.com/XEANd6YY5f
- Lotty Earns (@lottyburns) February 15, 2020
Having a bad day? Here is a picture of a baby platypus. pic.twitter.com/pvQaqUzMpD
- Deep State Don :flag_white:️:rainbow::information_desk_person:♂️ (@reallyDonB) February 17, 2020
However, if you're one of the people who had your day made by the delightful little duck-faced platypus, then I'm afraid it's time for today to be ruined by the knowledge this is in fact nothing more than a picture of a lump of clay.
The 'baby platypus' is in fact the creation of artist Vladimir Matić-Kuriljov, who said he never intended for the sculpture to deceive people across the planet.
Speaking to IFLScience, he said: "I just wanted to further clarify that it's [a] sculpture made out of Super Sculpey, a polymer clay.
"The description of the piece on my ArtStation post clearly says so, it's just the title that turned out to be misleading - 'Stone Platypus Baby'. What I actually had in mind was an invented fantasy species of 'stone platypus', I never considered how it might be misinterpreted."
Sorry about that then chaps. The good news though is that actual baby platypuses turn out to be pretty cute too:
this one is not a real platypus though argh https://t.co/DKN1CFDyLz
here's some baby and adult platypi for you :blush: pic.twitter.com/B7D7xUr09h
- wombot :eyes: (@colourmeamused_) February 16, 2020
That's a sculpture, this is a real baby platypus. They look like a marshmallow flew into a speeding truck and grew a bill. I love them. pic.twitter.com/r5ITGfT079
- hairball (@Unknownxenoform) February 16, 2020
pic.twitter.com/cKskzKhng4
- ganja gremlin :rose: (@anautumnaut) February 16, 2020
Hopefully this offers you some comfort as you come to terms with the fact you've been fawning over a lump of clay with a little bill on it.
