1. Platypus questions (Task 11) 4 points Connor Wright
Platypus Questions (Task 11) Slide 1

2. Where does it nest and have its young?
This diagram portrays a female platypus’ birth chamber inside her burrow.
The female platypus builds a nest of damp grass and leaves in a small chamber at the end of their long burrows. The dampness of the leaves helps to keep the temperature of the burrow right for the platypus’ young and eggs. After the female platypus has mated with a male platypus, the female platypus then seals up the birth chamber with dirt and roots. She then lays one or two eggs.
Connor Wright
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3. Does it incubate the eggs like a bird?
An 19th century artist’s impression of a platypus incubating it’s eggs.
Yes, the female platypus does. Platypuses are part of the very exclusive monotreme family. The eggs develop in the mother’s womb for a period of 28 days. Once the female has laid the eggs, she curls around them, similar to the way a chicken sits on her eggs.
Connor Wright
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4. How does it feed the young?
An 19th century artist’s impression of recently hatched platypus siblings.
Since the platypus is a mammal, the female feeds it’s babies milk. Platypuses don’t have tits for their young to suck on. Instead, the mother’s milk oozes out from the female’s mammary glands down two grooves on either side of the female’s abdomen. The babies then suck the milk from the grooves.
Connor Wright
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5. What does it feed on? Connor Wright
A platypus eating a yabbie at a Sydney aquarium.
A platypus, on average, spends 12 hours of their day searching for food. The platypus is a carnivore and a predator. Its diet consists mainly of: aquatic insect larvae, caddis flies, mayflies, two-winged flies, fresh water shrimp, annelid worms, yabbies and crayfish. They rarely eat fish, plant life or frogs.
The average platypus eats up to 20% of its body weight in food every day! In summer, they eat less, while in winter, they eat more so they can build up reserves of fat.
Connor Wright
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6. How does the platypus protect itself?
This diagram portrays the venom gland in a male platypus.
The male and female platypus are both born with ankle spurs. These spurs can be used to as a form of defence against a predator. However, the male spur has a bigger bite: the spur contains a gland that is linked to a small sac of venom. This venom can kill small animals like dogs but is not lethal to humans. On the other hand, if a human is stung, the venom can cause such extreme pain that the victim may be rendered unconscious.
Connor Wright
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7. Is the platypus endangered or under threat?
A rescued platypus.
The ICUN Red List 2012 has identified the platypus as “Least Concern”. Platypuses were hunted extensively for their fur until the early 20th century when measures were taken to protect them. However, in spite of the protective measures put in place, platypuses are still at risk from inland fisheries. The Australian Government has listed the platypus as “common but vulnerable”.
Connor Wright
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8. Does the platypus use electrolocation?
Yes, the platypus does use electrolocation. Then platypus and the echidna are the only mammals that posses the power of electrolocation. The electroreceptors that actually do the detecting are on the platypus’ bill. The platypus can determine the direction of its prey by moving its head in a side-to-side motion
A platypus using electrolocation.
Connor Wright
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9. Where does the platypus live?
This diagram shows were platypuses live in Australia.
The platypus is native to Australia. They live throughout coastal regions in eastern Australia and Tasmania, particularly in heavily wooded and protected regions. Platypuses can be found in cool mountainous regions in places such as Victoria or the Tasmanian Highlands. They also live in New South Wales and in Queensland. Platypuses live in bushland, tropical, temperate and sub-tropical rainforests.
They live in burrows that are dug into the side of freshwater creeks, rivers, lakes and dams. Platypuses do not live in the wild in New Zealand, nor anywhere else overseas. However, there are platypuses that live in zoos overseas, but platypuses are very delicate and very hard to breed in captivity.
Connor Wright
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10. In Summary Connor Wright Platypus Questions (Task 11) Slide 10
In summary, the Platypus is a unique and exciting creature. This report has shown that the platypus:
lives in a burrow and has a special chamber where the female platypus gives birth
incubates it eggs like a bird and is a monotreme
feeds it young milk from grooves that runs down the female’s abdomen
eats a variety of different things
has a ankle spur that can be used too protect themselves
is not endangered
uses electrolocation to find it’s prey
lives in lives in cool and warm regions and coastal areas in eastern Australia
Connor Wright
Platypus Questions (Task 11) Slide 10

11. Some words to know
Monotreme- a mammal that lays eggs. There are only two in existence: the platypus and the echidna.
Mammal- a warm-blooded vertebrate that has fur or hair and feeds it’s young milk during their period as a baby.
Mammary glands- an organ in a female mammal’s body that produces milk for it’s young offspring to feed on.
Electrolocation- some animals have the ability to find their prey by detecting electric fields generated by muscular contractions in the animal.
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