The Platypus - Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Beautiful, majestic, mysterious and darn right odd are possible descriptions of the platypus. Here is an animal whose general structure puts it somewhere on a level with reptiles and birds and at the same time suggests a closer relationship to those animals we call mammals which have fur coats, four legs and produce milk to feed their babies.
The platypus is a highly specialized animal. What specialized adaptations has nature grafted onto this aquatic creature? It certainly has not developed the streamlines of dolphins or seals but has enormous, webbed front feet and a flattened tail. It has a quiet and leisurely way of swimming which like the rest of the animal has to be seen to be believed.
On land, the platypus is shuffling and sinuous. The feet are very useful and can be used for a variety of purposes, apart from walking on, including grasping an enemy in order to inject him with venom, mating, preening, and digging. Only at Platypus House are you likely to see any of these activities because our animals are active throughout the day.
Of course the platypus does not have a duck’s beak! You would only think this to be the case if you were to look at photographs or drawings. The snout or bill of a platypus is soft, moist, flexible and extremely sensitive. Furthermore, there are no sensory whiskers like those seen on a dog or cat. Inside the mouth there are no teeth once the animal is a few months old – the teeth fall out and are replaced by horny plates with which to grind the food and ridges to hold onto slippery morsels. After watching the platypuses at Platypus House you will soon realize just how clever the animals are at catching their prey; even large freshwater crayfish can be quickly disposed of.
It is hard to believe that the underwater life of the platypus is that of a blind animal! The small, bright eyes are closed when the platypus dives below the surface of the water as are the nose and ears. The secret of how the platypus finds its food is to be found in the bill and by watching feeding platypuses at Platypus House the secret will be revealed before your very eyes. We feed ours animals during every tour so visitors are able to appreciate just how different this beautiful creature is to all others.
Breeding female platypuses lay eggs in spring time. One of the early descriptions of platypus eggs claims, “The eggs are remarkable for their regular spheroidal-oblong shape, of an equal width at both ends; they measure about 4 cm. in length and are about 0.2 cm in width.” Alas, this description, written in 1829, describes the egg of an Australian long-necked turtle (tortoise)! It was not until 1884 that scientists finally were convinced that platypuses laid eggs. Our Platypus House tour guides will tell you all about the life cycle of the platypus. We can however divulge that the development of the platypus egg is very different to that of a bird and the egg is 16 to 18 mm. long by 14 to 15 mm. wide on being laid.
Baby platypuses are called puggles. Once their mother no longer provides them with her milk they must leave the nest and find food by themselves. This is a very dangerous time for the puggles and many probably die if there is not an abundance of suitable aquatic food. Biologists working with live platypuses are often astonished by the amount of food newly captured animals eat. It is not unusual for a puggle to cosume 200g of earthworms, 40 odd shrimps and 40 beetle larvae in a single day.
While all sorts of aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, and small vertebrates such as tadpoles are potential food items, at times of drought these may be in short supply forcing puggles to move from creek to creek or pond to pond. During these migrations dogs, foxes, and motor vehicles may cause a heavy death toll on young platypuses.
In 1819, a Mr Barron Field wrote this sad couplet:
“When sooty swans are once more rare,
And duck-moles the museums care.”
(Duck-mole was a name early European settlers gave to the platypus).
Mr Field was of course predicting the extinction of platypuses. Platypuses are only found in Australia and are confined to eastern coastal areas for the most part. In Tasmania, they are present in lakes, ponds and rivers throughout the island. In 1982, a new disease was isolated from a platypus found dying on the banks of a river in northern Tasmania. The disease was caused by a fungus which we believe was probably brought to Tasmania on illegally imported frogs from mainland Australia. The platypuses living in Tasmania are quite genetically discrete from their mainland cousins. We must do everything we can to ensure this terrible disease is controlled. Platypus House has set up an interpretation centre to emphasize the dangers now facing this unique creature. Through education, all of us can play a role in safeguarding one of the world’s most unique and beautiful animals.
Come and learn all about the Tasmanian platypus and its close relative the Tasmanian echidna from our staff and better still we guarantee you will see the animals live, up close, and personal at Platypus House!
