Platypus
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DESCRIPTION

Size varies with location. The Platypus measurements shown here are for those found west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW (where Fourth Crossing is located). Measurements are from tip of bill to tip of tail.

Male: 550mm in length. Weight 2215g.

Female: 470mm in length. Weight 2000g.

The identification of a platypus is unmistakable. With its broad bill and broad paddle like tail - there is simply not another animal that looks like it. The Platypus can be found down the eastern seaboard of the Australian mainland, from far northern Queensland down through NSW (and then inland as far as the Great Dividing Range) and into Victoria. They can be found, in patches, over the whole island of Tasmania. The underfur of the Platypus is extremely fine and dense and even during periods of immersion the fur remains dry. Long guard hair protrudes through the underfur layer, which helps keep the Platypus waterproof. The main diet of the Platypus consists of aquatic invertebrates, small fish and amphibians. Smaller prey is sifted off the river floor, but larger prey can be snapped up individually. Food is stored in cheek pouches and then eaten while the animal floats on the water surface. Although similar in appearance, the Platypus bill is nothing like a ducks. It is pliable and more like rubber whereas a ducks bill is hard. An adult male Platypus has a sharp spur, approximately 12mm in length, on each ankle which is connected to a venom gland. The venom, which shows greatest activity in the breeding season, can cause excruciating pain and paralysis in humans. The Platypus is essentially solitary but may share a body of water in high populated areas. When not in the water the Platypus lives in burrows on the rivers edge. The burrows are relatively short and are quite often under the tangle of tree roots. During breeding season a female will construct a more elaborate nursing burrow. The breeding season various in the different areas of Australia, but in NSW mating occurs around September. Two eggs are normally laid which are incubated by the female by holding them against her belly using her tail, while she lays curled in a nest in the burrow. Hatching occurs about one to two weeks after the eggs are laid. The young then feed by suckling milk from the mothers abdominal surface, where the mammary ducts open. During the four to five months of lactation, the young remain in the burrow while the female leaves for periods to forage. The Platypus is usually active around dawn and dusk, but activity patterns are determined by such variables as human activity, day length, air and water temperatures and stream productivity.