It chews its food between horny grinding plates and ridges on its upper and lower jaws before swallowing. The platypus has no teeth, and stores its food in cheek pouches to eat on the surface. With eyes and ears closed, receptors in the bill can detect electrical currents in the water and can help to find prey. The platypus, usually active at dawn and dusk, relies on its sensitive bill to find food.

Platypus eat small water animals such as insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, and crayfish. During cold southern winters, a platypus can hibernate in its burrow. The rest of its time is spent in its burrow, moving across land or even basking in the sun. Half of the platypus's day is spent in the water looking for food. Platypus mostly live alone, but can share a water body with several other platypus.

They build a simple burrow in a river bank, just above water level and often among a tangle of tree roots. Platypus make their home in and near freshwater creeks, slow-moving rivers, lakes joined by rivers, and built water storages such as farm dams. The animals aren't found in Cape York Peninsula. In north Queensland, the range of the platypus is close to the coast. In Queensland, platypus live in rivers east of the Great Dividing Range, and are also found in some western-flowing streams. Platypus are found in eastern Australia from the steamy tropics of far north Queensland to the freezing snows of Tasmania. The venom glands are most active during the spring breeding season, so competing males probably use the spurs in territorial fights. These spurs are connected to a venom gland in each thigh. The male platypus has a sharp spur on each ankle. If the water is cold, platypus can increase their body's heat-production to keep their temperature at around 32 degrees.Īwkward on the ground, the platypus waddles with the webs of its front feet turned back so it can use its claws for digging. Fat is stored in the tail for when food is scarce or when the female returns to her burrow to breed. The tail acts as a stabiliser when the platypus swims, and is also used for burrowing. It has a broad, flat tail with short, stout legs and webbed front feet well suited to its life in the water. The platypus's body is covered in thick, dark brown fur and is flat and streamlined. Very sensitive, the bill is like soft, wet rubber and is used to find food. The first thing most people notice about the platypus is its bill. The platypus is smaller than most people think, males are about 50 cm long and weigh about 1.5 kg and females are smaller, usually about 40 cm long and weighing 1 kg. Monotremes are different from other mammals because they have no teats and lay eggs like birds even though they raise their young like mammals. The other two species are Australia's short-beaked echidna and Papua New Guinea's long-beaked echidna. The platypus is one of only three monotremes. Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinusĬonservation status: This species is listed as Special Least Concern in Queensland (Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006).Ī duck-like bill and shy nature has made the platypus one of Australia's most intriguing animals.

Coal seam gas information for community and landholders.

Air monitoring programs and investigations.

COVID-19 information for environmental authority holders.

Apply, renew or register using Online Services.

Fat platypus