The platypus is a carnivore. It feeds on annelid worms, which are also known as segmented worms, like the earthworm, insect larvae, freshwater shrimp, and freshwater yabby, or a type of crayfish called a cherax, but more commonly known as a yabby in Australia. The platypus digs it's food out of the riverbed with it's bill or catches it while swimming, then stores its prey in it's cheek pouches while it takes it up to the surface to eat. It spends about 12 hours a day looking for food, as it needs to eat about 20% of its body weight each day.