The Platypus

The Duck Billed Platypus was discovered a long time ago but since the physical description provided was so fantastic, it was thought to be a figment of a fertile imagination. Initially when platypus specimens were sent to England, it was thought that the animal was a hoax. Someone had managed to stick body parts of various animals together and called it the duckbilled platypus. Its muzzle was like a duck's bill, it had a beaver- like tail and most astoundingly laid eggs but suckled its young. All of these attributes seemed contradictory to the known facts about the animal kingdom. But when Everard Jones dissected a specimen and published a paper in 1802 to this effect, it was confirmed that the platypus did indeed exist.

The platypus is a member of the order Monotremata, of which there are two other members. They are the long-beaked echidna and the short-beaked echidna. Monotremes are found only in Australia and New Guinea. The platypus has been called a variety of different names. When it was discovered in 1797 by the Europeans, it was called duckbill, water mole, duck mole and platypus. Prior to its discovery by the Europeans, the Aborigines called it mallangong, boondaburra or tambreet. It was given its official name of Platypus anatinus, which meant a flat-footed, duck like animal in 1799. The platypus is not actually flat-footed but its webbed feet make it look flat-footed.

The platypus can be found along the eastern coast of Australia, in its rivers, streams and lakes. They can be found as far north as Northern Queensland, and as far south as Tasmania. The platypus is predominantly a loner, who has its own specific home range, in which it lives and feeds. Within these home ranges there are several burrows located along the riverbank that the platypus may use. There appear to be two types of burrow; dwelling burrows and nesting burrows. The more complex ones are used for rearing young, whereas the other, more simple, ones are used by both sexes on a day-to-day basis for resting, sleeping and eating. The adult male's average length is about 50cm and its weight is approximately 1.7kg. The female, however, is smaller and will reach an average length of 44cm and weigh about 0.9kg. The platypus has a thick covering of waterproof hair over all of its body, apart from on its feet and its bill. The outer hair is rough while the under hair is soft and smooth. The tail of the platypus has a similar usage as to the hum of a camel. It is made up of a fatty tissue that is used to store energy supplies, which the animal can use when there is a shortage of food. The platypus for steering while swimming. The platypus's body is flat, streamlined. Its legs are short and are ideally suited for swimming. Male platypuses have a spur on each hind leg, which is connected to a poison gland by a duct. The platypus has a flexible, duck-like bill, which is soft, flat and rubbery. It has a large number of nerves there, which makes it possible for it to forage for food when it is submerged. The platypus does not have any teeth, so it utilizes grinding pads on the upper and lower surfaces of its mouth to grind the food. Not much is known about the kind of sounds that a platypus can make.

The diet of the platypus consists of Fresh Water Shrimps, Fly Larvae, Horse-hair Worms, Small Snails and various Molluscs. The platypus generally eats about 25% of its body weight per day. As is the case with all reptiles the platypus can function well in cold environments by reducing its metabolism rate. The platypus is primarily nocturnal in its behavior, though it can often be seen at dusk and dawn. Male and female platypuses tend not to come into contact with each other, except during the mating season. The platypus first breeds when it is two years old. There is speculation that the gestation period of the platypus would mirror that of the Echinada, which gives birth after a gestation period of one month. The female can produce between one and three eggs. Predators of the platypus include crocodiles, birds of prey and foxes. When the platypus was discovered by the Europeans it was mercilessly hunted for its fur. But it would take close to 65 pelts to make one full-length coat. The Government had to introduce legislation to save the platypus.