Platypus

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an egg-laying mammal living in the rivers and waterways of the eastern  Australia.

As far north as Queensland and including Tasmania. When Europeans first saw it in 1798, Captain John Hunter, the second Governor of New South Wales, sent a pelt and sketch back to Great Britain. British scientists initially thought it was a hoax. George Shaw, who produced the first description of the animal in the Naturalist’s Miscellany in 1799, stated it was impossible not to entertain doubts about its genuine nature, and Robert Knox believed some Asian taxidermist might have produced it. It was thought that somebody had sewn a duck’s beak onto the body of a beaver-like animal. Shaw even took a pair of scissors to the dried skin to check for stitches.

The animal is smaller than most people think; males are about 50 cm long and weigh about 1.5 kg; females are smaller, usually about 40 cm long and weighing 1 kg. The platypus bill is very sensitive and soft, like wet rubber used to locate food. The platypus’s body is covered in thick, dark brown fur and is flat and streamlined. Broad flat tail, short, stout legs, webbed front feet well suited to a life in the water. Until the early 20th century, it was hunted for its fur, but it is now protected throughout its range. Although captive breeding programs have had limited success and the platypus is vulnerable to the effects of pollution, it is not under any immediate threat.

The platypus has no teeth and stores its food in cheek pouches to eat on the surface. Before swallowing, it chews its food between horny grinding plates and ridges on its upper and lower jaws.

Platypus can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes. When swimming, the platypus moves with its front feet and uses its back feet for steering and brakes. Water doesn’t get into the platypus’s thick fur and swims with its eyes, ears and nostrils shut.

The Australian Museum has more information on the beautiful platypus. Also the other Australian Animals I love!