The Platypus (also commonly known as the Duck-Billed Platypus) is a small species of semi-aquatic

mammal indigenous to the eastern coast of Australia. Known for it's unique looking appearance,
the Platypus belongs to a small group of mammals called monotremes, of which there are only
three species. The Platypus along with the Short-Nosed Echidna and Long-Nosed Echidna are the
only mammals that are known to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young, making them truly
unique and leading to them not being recognised as true mammals for a long time. They do
however, possess and feed their young using their mammary glands - the essential characteristic
from which the class Mammalia takes its name. When the first Platypus specimen arrived in Britain
in 1798, it was thought to be a hoax as the Platypus looks like it is a mixture of a mammal and a
bird.

Platypus Anatomy and Appearance

The Platypus has a small, streamlined body that is covered in short and dense waterproof fur that
varies in colour from dark brown on their back with a light brown or silver underside and a plum
coloured middle. They have short limbs with partially webbed hind feet and a broad, flat tail
(which resembles the tail of a beaver) that are used as rudders when underwater. Their front feet
are fully webbed and help to propel the Platypus through the water and can be turned back when
on land, exposing their large nails to aid them when walking or burrowing into the river banks.
One of the Platypus's most distinctive and unusual features is the large, broad bill that looks like
the beak of a duck. The bill of the Platypus is soft and pliable and covered in a multitude of sensory
receptors that help them to detect the small electrical signals emitted from their prey species.
Their bills are very touch-sensitive and are often used to probe the mud on the riverbed for the
small insect larvae which they most commonly feed on. Males are larger in size than females and
possess a poison spur on the ankle of each hind foot that is used to drive away rival males during
the breeding season.

Platypus Distribution and Habitat

The Platypus is found on the east coast of Australia from Cooktown in Queensland in the north, all
the way down to the island of Tasmania in the south and has also been introduced to Kangaroo
Island in southern Australia. They inhabit streams and rivers, and some lakes that have suitable
banks for burrowing in and a permanent source of water. They are highly suited to their semi-
aquatic environment and possess the best physical characteristics for dealing with life both in and
out of the water, with their dense fur helping to keep their warm bodies insulated even in the
coldest of water. Their home ranges vary depending on the specific river system and can vary in
size from less than a kilometre to more than 7 kilometres, and overlap those ranges of other
individuals despite their solitary nature. The Platypus is thought to be so successful as an animal
species as they are able to survive in such a niche environment in the world's driest continent.

Platypus Behaviour and Lifestyle

The Platypus is a solitary animal that despite occupying overlapping home ranges, only come
together during the breeding season or when a mother is looking after her young. They are
nocturnal hunters that are able to close their eyes, ears and nostrils when diving down to the river
bed in search of food. During the day, they rest in burrows that are dug into the river banks using
their long, broad nails and powerful front legs. There are two different types of burrow used by
the Platypus; one for resting and one for incubating their eggs and nursing their young. Individual
animals may use a number of resting burrows within their home range. Typically resting burrows
are around 5 meters in length but incubation burrows can reach up to 30 meters long and can
have more than one nesting chamber.

Platypus Reproduction and Life Cycles

Breeding takes place between late winter and early spring (July - October) in the water, with males
using their poison spurs to deliver a painful dose of poison to their rivals. As part of their courtship
ritual, females carry bundles of wet leaves to their incubation chamber at the end of their burrow
and plug the tunnel with soil. After a gestation period of between two and three weeks, the
female Platypus lays between one and three small, spherical eggs that are only 1.5cm in size and
are soft and leathery. After an incubation period of around 10 days, the young hatch out in a very
undeveloped state measuring barely 1cm in length, blind, hairless and have blunt buds for limbs.
They are nursed by their mother in the incubation chamber for up to 5 months suckling on the
milk on her fur that is secreted by her mammary glands. A young Platypus is lighter in colour than
older individuals and 85% of their adult size when they first become independent. Platypuses tend
to live for around 10 years in the wild but can reach ages of 17 or more when in captivity.

Platypus Diet and Prey

The Platypus is a small, carnivorous mammal whose diet is almost solely comprised of bottom-
dwelling aquatic creatures. Young insects (larvae) make up the majority of their diet along with
small freshwater crustaceans, snails, tadpoles and small fish. Due to the fact that their eyes, ears
and nostrils are closed when they are underwater, the Platypus relies solely on its bill in order to
find food. The small sensory receptors that cover it can detect the electrical signals created by the
movement of creatures in the water and the fact that it is highly tactile means that they can also
feel prey species when probing the mud on the river bed. When hunting the Platypus stores food
in cheek pouches located on the sides of the mouth that is then ground up using the horny ridges
that they have instead of teeth.

Platypus Predators and Threats

The Platypus is a highly specialised animal that has evolved to survive and thrive in very specific
environments, and protects itself from predators when resting during the day by hiding in their
river-bank burrows. However, their small size means that they are preyed upon by numerous
animal species throughout their home ranges. Their most common predators include birds of prey
such as hawks and eagles, large mammals including dingoes, dogs, cats and Tasmanian devils, and
reptiles such as snakes, monitor lizards and crocodiles. Despite the fact that they are widespread
and considered locally common in places, they were hunted to near extinction in the 18th century
which has led to reductions and fragmentation of Platypus populations in some areas. Due to their
very specific evolution, they are also highly susceptible to changes in their natural habitats.

Platypus Interesting Facts and Features

The Platypus is a species of monotreme, which is a small group of egg-laying mammals of which
are they are only three species. Not considered as true mammals by some scientists, monotremes
are thought to be the most primitive group of mammals having evolved around 200 million years
ago. However, despite having evolved before other mammal species, monotremes are by no
means primitive and possess some highly developed features that are not found in any other
group of mammals, such as the poisonous spur found on the hind ankles of males. Unlike other
mammals, they do not have a birth canal and instead their eggs travel through the same bodily
opening as their urine and faeces and terminate in a single bodily opening known as the cloaca.
This is a feature that monotremes share with both birds and reptiles with the name monotreme
actually meaning "one-holed animal".

Platypus Relationship with Humans

With the settlement of Europeans in the 18th century came a great change for Platypus
populations along Australia's eastern coast. The Platypus was hunted extensively for it's soft, thick
fur until it became banned in 1900 which allowed populations to begin to recover. Growing human
settlements and changes to the freshwater conditions caused by pollution has had a negative
impact on Platypus populations particularly in certain areas, where they have suffered from
habitat loss.

Platypus Conservation Status and Life Today

Until 2014, the Platypus was considered to be an animal that was of Least Concern from extinction
by the IUCN. However, due to the constant decline in their population numbers they are
considered to be a species that is now Near Threatened. With up to 300,000 adult individuals
remaining in the wild, the Platypus is becoming increasingly threatened throughout its natural
range. A number of captive breeding programmes have been established to try and boost Platypus
population numbers in certain areas.