Platypus

I have waited so long to get shots like these of Platypus, and it's finally paid off. If you want to see a Platypus, go to Eungella, we had trouble not seeing one. Amazing place. Great rainforest swell.

 

Incidentally, this photo was featured a while ago on the Zoos Victoria ad, which is a nice bit of excitement.

 

Platypus - Ornythorhynchus Anatinus

 

Considered to be one of the most bizarre animals in the world, the platypus, when early settlers first saw it, and infact when a specimen was sent back to England, thought is was a very clever hoax. But the Platypus, with a very rubbery and sensitive bill that looks much like a ducks, webbed feet, very thick oilless fur and furry, beaver-like tail is very much real. It is a monotreme (which means 'single hole'), meaning that it is a egg-laying mammal, although it still suckles it's young.

The Platypus has many touch and electro sensitive receptors in its bill with it pans the creek-, lake- or river-bed for crustaceans and other water living food sources. Tiny electrical currents given off my the bodily goings-on are detected by the bill, allowing the platypus to find food under water when its eyes, ears and even nostrils are closed.

The male also has a venomous spur on his hind feet, about 15mm long, capable of injecting enough venom powerful enough to kill a small dog.

The Platypus also exhibits itself as an example of Bergman's Rule, which talks about how some species, such as the Platypus, reduce in general size as they enter in their distribution more tropical areas.

 

 

Head, Body and Tail Length:

370mm-630mm

 

Weight:

600-3000g

 

 

Van Dyck, S, R Strahan. 2008. The Mammals of Australia Third Edition. Reed New Holland.

Done