The primary function of the electroreceptors in platypuses is to detect electrical signals produced by other animals. These electroreceptors, located in the bill of the platypus, are specialized sensory organs known as electroreceptor organs or ampullae of Lorenzini.
The electroreceptors allow platypuses to sense electrical fields generated by the muscle contractions and movements of prey animals, such as invertebrates, fish, and crustaceans, while they are underwater. This unique ability is known as electrolocation or electroreception.