Conservation Status

The platypus’ conservation status is listed as “common but vulnerable.” Their vulnerability is due to the destruction of their natural habitat from construction and irrigation projects, from water pollution. Additionally, a common threat to the platypus are fishermen, who frequently accidentally entangle and kill platypus with their nets and lines. Australia and all of the areas the platypus are naturally found in (New South Wales, Queensland, south eastern South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria) have specific legislation protecting them from being hunted, captured, and/or killed unless for approved scientific research reasons.  A few hundred years ago, the platypus was commonly hunted for its unique fur. 

Platypus have two layers of fur, one which is very dense and waterproof, helping to keep the platypus warm as it swims under water. The second, longer layer, of fur is rather soft. They were so frequently hunted for their fur that they nearly became extinct. Fortunately, government programs and legislature protecting the platypus from being hunted prevented their extinction and our strange little friends are now, presently, no longer in any danger of going extinct.  Fishing regulations have also served to promote the longevity of the platypus population, however, illegal fishing nets used by poachers still pose a serious threat to platypus today. Furthermore, it is very difficult to measure the number of platypus so there are currently no exceptionally accurate predictions for their future conservation status. Its is being suggested, however, that poor water quality in many of their fresh water river beds, the introduction of new species to their areas, and the effects of river regulation may all play a negative role in promoting the future well being of the platypus population. 

FUNNY PLATYPUS VIDEO!!!!!.....THIS IS WHAT IS ON DISNEY CHANNEL THESE DAYS

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Predatory Behavior

The platypus predatory behavior consumes about 12 hours of their lives everyday due to their need to eat an estimated twenty percent of their body weight in food each day (that’s a lot!). In order to achieve this, the platypus must spent the majority of its day hunting for food. As I mentioned in a previous post, the platypus is a carnivore and its main prey are shrimps, worms, crayfish, fish eggs, mollusks, and larvae. The platypus catches its prey while on a dive under the water. Platypus either catch their prey while they are swimming or actively dig their prey up from under the riverbed. Once caught, the platypus stores its prey inside its cheeks while it swims back up to the surface to actually consume the food.  As for what predators the platypus themselves have to watch out for, it is a rather lengthy list that includes birds (like hawks and eagles), wild cats and dogs, crocodiles, and foxes. The main predator of the platypus, however, sadly used to be humans.  Before they were protected by laws set in place as conservation measures, humans used to hunt the platypus for their unique fur that is warm and soft yet also water resistant. Unfortunately humans are still a danger to the platypus because of our destruction of their natural environment and especially our unsafe use of fishing nets in freshwater locations (they drown in the nets that are left behind). While the use of nets in freshwater bodies has been officially band it is still practiced by insensitive fishermen today and therefore still poses a risk to our beautiful platypus friends.  

PLATYPUS CATCHES A YABBY VIDEO!:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8bNdKBzbJs&feature=related

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Orphaned baby platypup rescued!

A baby platypus does not have an official name, although some people incorrectly call them “puggles.” A cute name I came across for describing baby platypus is “platypup” but this is not an officially accepted term for the adorable little creatures. At the beginning of February this year one such platypup, in fact a poor orphaned platypup, was found in saltwater (platypus live in freshwater) and was taken in by the Healesville Sanctuary in Australia- the world’s leading expert in caring for platypus. The poor orphaned platypus was in critical condition when it arrived but has since been nursed to health by the loving platypus care takers at the sanctuary. LOOK HOW CUTE SHE IS! 

You can read more about the story and the Healesville Sanctuary at: http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2011/02/a-handful-of-baby-platypus.html

Reproductive Behavior

Platypus have some of the most interesting reproductive behavior- from their mating rituals to their special nesting burrow to the fact that the mother lays eggs yet is still considered a mammal.  The typical platypus-mating season is considered to be from August to October. The male platypus does not develop the ability to reproduce until they are two years of age, and it is around this age that the females begin breeding as well. During this time, the male and female platypus engage in a very lengthy and unique mating ritual. Before this happens, the males sometimes fight each other for the opportunity to mate with the female, using the poisonous spurs on their hind legs to fight each other off. Once the male has secured a female mate, the two swim in circles while the male holds on to the female’s tale to keep them connected. Afterwards, they mate in the water (not on land!). The actual copulation process involves the male platypus coming up behind the female and placing his tail underneath the female to facilitate connection.

Platypus have two distinct type of burrows, one of which is called the “nesting burrow.” This burrow is built completely by the female and is added to with wet materials (like leaves) by the female throughout the nesting process to keep the eggs from drying out. The female platypus lays her eggs approximately 2-4 weeks after copulation and usually lays between one and three eggs at a time. Similar to the way birds sit on their eggs, the female platypus holds her eggs under her with her big fat filled tail being used to keep them close. This warmth allows the eggs to hatch in only 10 days! Interestingly, the platypus-mating season is really the only time of the year that the platypus is not a solitary animal.

A PLATYPUS LOVE STORY!!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLnpCRuEQ0

http://animals.jrank.org/pages/2581/Duck-Billed-Platypus-Ornithorhynchidae-BEHAVIOR-REPRODUCTION.html

http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/jjp1/ansci_repro/misc/project_websites_08/thur/monotremes/matbehav.html

http://www.australianfauna.com/platypus.php

Territorial Behavior

The platypus is a territorial animal that uses the venomous spurs on its hind legs to defend itself. Females, however, do not have the venomous spurs and are in fact actually not quite as territorial as the male platypus. Males are not involved in raising the young, which results in females being more territorial regarding the protection of their babies. Furthermore males fight each other in pursuit of females during the mating season. This is another time in which the male platypus uses its venomous spurs for their personal gain.  Solitary animals, the platypus is generally a shy creature that spends most of its time in their personal burrows in the riverbanks with entrances only slightly higher than water level. Unfortunately, there isn’t very much known about the territorial behavior of platypus because of their solitary nature. Some of the most concrete indications of their territorial behavior comes from reports of fighting between platypus in specific areas.

While there isn’t a whole lot of information about the platypus territorial behavior I did learn some interesting facts while I was researching . Apparently, one really prominent aspect of the platypus behavior is grooming, which they perform meticulously in the water occasionally, but mostly on a surface out of the water like a log or a rock. I also sadly discovered that the platypus is sadly now extinct in South Australia, and that different regions have different names for the platypus. For example, some indigenous people call them “boondaburra, mallangong, tambreet,” or “tohunbuck”.

FUN PLATYPUS VIDEO OF THE WEEK!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6JzvzUXwZ0

http://www.apex.net.au/~mhumphry/austwild.html

http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/mammals/platypus.html

http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=159

Pet Platypus Not For Sale

Unfortunately, it is illegal to have a pet platypus.  Besides the fact that it is against the law to own a platypus as a pet, it is nearly impossible due to their sensitivity to change in their environment. Additionally, the male platypus is actually a venomous animal that comes complete with a spur on its hind foot that delivers enough venom to cause serious pain to a human and even kill a very small child! The Platypus is no longer considered an endangered species, but it is listed as “vulnerable,” which contributes to the illegality of owning one as a pet. Despite this common knowledge, there are still a few sites that list “Platypus for Sale” on the internet…It’s almost understandable how someone might find themselves on one of those sites wishing for a pet platypus because as babies, THEY ARE SO STINKING CUTE!

Platypus foraging behavior and eating habits!

The platypus’ eating habits and behaviors are very unique and cool! Platypus eat freshwater shrimp, larvae, worms, water snails, aquatic insects, and sometimes the eggs of frogs and fish, and they dedicate around 12 hours each day simply to finding food! The way the platypus locates its food is by using its bill. The platypus bill is really fascinating! It has hundreds of receptors, which are able to detect touch and electric currents created by the movements of their prey, which is known as electroreception.  This is really important for the platypus because when they are underwater hunting for their prey they actually have their eyes, ears, and nostrils closed so they are completely dependent on the capabilities of their bill.  The way the platypus uses its prey detecting bill capabilities is by moving its head back and forth to locate any prey in the surrounding area. Once the platypus has located and captured its prey, it then stores the food in the pouches of its cheeks until the pouches become entirely full. At this point, the platypus swims back up to the surface (using its webbed feet to propel itself) where it separates the food from any sand that it picked up in its mouth while capturing its prey. Another cool thing about the platypus is that adults actually do not have teeth! Platypus young have three molars but lose them when they enter adulthood. In order to eat, they actually grind their food between the pads they have in place of teeth. These pads in the platypus’ mouth are not actually in the bill, however, the platypus mouth is located underneath its bill. Lastly, the platypus uses its tail for fat storage. In fact, the platypus stores up to 50% of its body fat in its cute tail!

FUN PLATYPUS VIDEO OF THE WEEK!!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0igE8QJizKA

http://www.thejunglestore.com/Platypuses

http://library.thinkquest.org/5053/Australia/duckbillplatypus.html

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/benrud_ryan/what_does_a_platypus_eat.htm