Platypus. Description of the animal and brief characteristics
Order - Monotremes / Family - Platypus / Genus - Platypus
History of the study
The platypus (lat. Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a waterfowl mammal of the monotreme order that lives in Australia. It is the only modern representative of the platypus family (Ornithorhynchidae); together with echidnas it forms the order of monotremes (Monotremata) - animals that are similar to reptiles in a number of characteristics. This unique animal is one of the symbols of Australia; it appears on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin.
The platypus was discovered in the 18th century. during the colonization of New South Wales. A list of animals of this colony published in 1802 mentions “an amphibian animal of the genus of moles. Its most curious quality is that it has a duck’s beak instead of a normal mouth, allowing it to feed in the mud like birds.”
The first platypus skin was sent to England in 1797. Its appearance gave rise to fierce debate among the scientific community. At first, the skin was considered the product of some taxidermist who had sewn a duck beak to the skin of an animal similar to a beaver. George Shaw managed to dispel this suspicion, who examined the parcel and came to the conclusion that it was not a fake (for this, Shaw even cut the skin in search of stitches). The question arose as to which group of animals the platypus belongs to. After he received his scientific name, the first animals were brought to England, and it turned out that the female platypus does not have visible mammary glands, but this animal, like birds, has a cloaca. For a quarter of a century, scientists could not decide where to classify the platypus - to mammals, birds, reptiles, or even to a separate class, until in 1824 the German biologist Meckel discovered that the platypus still has mammary glands and the female feeds her young with milk. The fact that the platypus lays eggs was proven only in 1884.
The zoological name was given to this strange animal in 1799 by the English naturalist George Shaw.
Spreading
The platypus is a secretive, nocturnal, semi-aquatic animal that inhabits the banks of small rivers and standing ponds in eastern Australia, across a wide range from the cold plateaus of Tasmania and the Australian Alps to the tropical rainforests of coastal Queensland. In the north, its range reaches the Cape York Peninsula (Cooktown).
Appearance
The size of the platypus is comparable to the size domestic cat. The male's body is about 50-60 centimeters in length, and the female's is about 40-50 centimeters. The weight of an adult male is about 2 kg, while the female platypus weighs 0.9 kg.
The entire body of the animal is covered with thick wool, with the exception of the paws and beak. The outer coat is brown in color, and the undercoat is yellowish. There are about 800 hairs per square millimeter of skin, and in this it is thicker than fur river otter or polar bear. The long hairs of the surface layer, together with the fluffy undercoat, provide brilliant protection. The thermal characteristics of platypus fur allow them to tolerate low temperatures.
The sensitive and soft beak of the platypus has a blue-gray, blackish tint, with two nasal openings located at the tip. This arrangement of the nostrils allows the platypus to breathe even while the rest of its body remains under water. In this case, the lower part of the beak is smaller than the upper. It is secured by two long dental ossicles, which are found in all mammals. The beak has the property of electroreception, the system of which contains about 850,000 electrical and tactile receptors.
Ear openings or grooves are located on both sides of the head of the platypus, which does not have external ears. The ear openings close when diving or swimming underwater. On the surface, these holes are very sensitive to sound. And his small, beady eyes are very sensitive to any movement. Cone-shaped visual cells were found in the retina, indicating the platypus' ability to distinguish colors. The position of the animal's eyes allows it to perfectly view the banks of the river.
The platypus has four legs, protruding horizontally in relation to the body. Because of this arrangement of its paws, it moves along the ground, wagging like a lizard. The front paws have large swimming membranes that help the platypus move in the water, alternately flapping its front paws. On land, the membranes can bend in such a way that sharp claws are exposed, which the platypus uses when moving and digging holes. The hind legs, which are also partially webbed, have curved claws that help the platypus control its movement and maintain balance while swimming. The claws also serve as an anchor for the animal when digging, as well as for cleaning the fur to maintain its water-repellent properties.
The platypus's tail is wide and flat, similar in appearance to an oar. It serves as a rudder when swimming and a shovel when clearing the hole from the ground while building tunnels. Its main purpose is to “fat up” during periods of food shortage or when the platypus needs more energy to lay eggs. The thick tail of an animal is an indicator of the excellent health of its owner.
The body temperature of most mammals is 37-38 C, while the body temperature of the platypus is approximately 32 C. This reduces the rate at which the platypus loses heat while in the water.
Reproduction
Every year, platypuses go into a 5-10 day period. hibernation, after which they begin the breeding season. It lasts from August to November. Mating occurs in water. The male bites the female’s tail, and the animals swim in a circle for some time, after which mating occurs (in addition, 4 more variants of the courtship ritual have been recorded). The male covers several females; Platypuses do not form permanent pairs.
After mating, the female digs a brood hole. Unlike a regular burrow, it is longer and ends with a nesting chamber. A nest of stems and leaves is built inside; The female wears the material with her tail pressed to her stomach. Then she seals the corridor with one or more earthen plugs 15-20 cm thick to protect the hole from predators and floods. The female makes plugs with the help of her tail, which she uses like a mason’s spatula. The inside of the nest is always moist, which prevents the eggs from drying out. The male does not take part in building the burrow and raising the young.
2 weeks after mating, the female lays 1-3 (usually 2) eggs. Platypus eggs are similar to reptile eggs - they are round, small (11 mm in diameter) and covered with an off-white leathery shell. After laying, the eggs stick together with the help of an adhesive substance that covers them on the outside. Incubation lasts up to 10 days; During incubation, the female rarely leaves the burrow and usually lies curled up around the eggs.
Platypus cubs are born naked and blind, approximately 2.5 cm long. The female, lying on her back, moves them to her belly. She does not have a brood pouch. The mother feeds the cubs with milk, which comes out through the enlarged pores on her stomach. Milk flows down the mother's fur, accumulating in special grooves, and the cubs lick it off. The mother leaves the offspring only for a short time to feed and dry the skin; leaving, she clogs the entrance with soil. The cubs' eyes open at 11 weeks. Milk feeding lasts up to 4 months; at 17 weeks, the cubs begin to leave the hole to hunt. Young platypuses reach sexual maturity at the age of 1 year.
The lifespan of platypuses in the wild is unknown; in captivity they live an average of 10 years.
Lifestyle
Platypuses live in all freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes in eastern Australia from the Cooktown region in the north to Tasmania in the south. It can be found in 26 out of 31 river systems in Victoria. Platypuses prefer long river basins with rocky shores, standing water, one to two meters deep, rich in aquatic vegetation, with a sufficient number of invertebrate animals living in it.
The platypus builds two types of burrows. An ordinary burrow is used by both females and males as a living space, with the exception of the mating season, during which it becomes a “bachelor apartment.” This burrow is usually semicircular in shape, with entrances on each side camouflaged by overhanging projections. Often these holes are located among the roots of trees. The other hole, the nesting hole, is dug by the female to lay eggs in it, and then to raise the young. The passage into the hole corresponds to the shape of the body of the female platypus and is designed to save the hole in case of flooding. The entrance to the hole is always located above the water. The female can build her burrow using eucalyptus leaves, thin willow twigs, or reeds that she crushes with her jaws. To create ideal incubation conditions, the female platypus closes the hole behind her with several earthen plugs at a certain distance from each other. These plugs help protect against flooding and in a certain way protect against possible enemies. Platypuses typically clean their fur and shake off water before entering a burrow to keep the nest as dry as possible.
Throughout the year, the platypus must adapt to changes in temperature both on land and in the water. in winter minimum temperature air can reach -12C, and water - 0C. In summer, the air warms up to +34C, and water - up to +24C. Even in a hole, the temperature ranges from +14C in winter to +18C in summer. The platypus adapts to these temperature fluctuations in a variety of ways.
As the temperature drops, the platypus produces more heat to maintain a normal body temperature. This is achieved by increasing the metabolic rate, which requires more energy, and in turn, more food consumed. It is at this point that the fat accumulated in the tail can be used if the platypus fails to obtain enough food. The platypus also uses the blood circulation to deliver heat to those parts of the body that need it, and this reduces the flow of blood to the hind limbs, tail and beak that do not need it. large quantities heat. Their thick, waterproof coat also retains a layer of air, which provides good insulation. In south-eastern Australia, platypuses undergo a short winter hibernation or semi-hibernation. These periods are short and irregular during the cooler months, with the longest recorded period of hibernation being 6.5 days.
As a rule, platypuses are solitary animals with their own special habitat in which they feed and live. The platypus is timid and distrustful. He tends to lead night look life and, as a rule, leaves its hole only in the early morning hours and in the evenings.
The platypus sleeps in its hole for up to 17 hours a day. Medium size The burrow is 1-3 meters long, the entrance is hidden under water or directly above the water level. Adults use their long claws to dig holes through soft river banks. It is estimated that the platypus can make a tunnel 1 meter long in 2 hours. Grooming is very important for the platypus and is carried out both on land and under water.
The platypus uses an electroreception system to detect prey underwater. Once food enters its beak, it pushes it into the cheek pouch located at the back of the beak. When the platypus surfaces, it returns the contents of the sac back to its beak and grinds food using horny plates located on the lower and upper jaws. Uneaten food remains, such as shells, silt or mud, etc., are removed through the horny teeth on both sides of the lower jaw.
The platypus is capable of making sounds that can be compared to the squeak of a puppy. Young platypuses use these sounds to attract playmates, and adult animals use these sounds to communicate with each other. These sounds are produced using the pharynx, a characteristic laryngeal structure of mammals.
Nutrition
It feeds on small aquatic animals, stirring up the silt at the bottom of the reservoir with its beak and catching living creatures that have risen. They observed how the platypus, while feeding, turns over stones with its claws or with the help of its beak. It eats crustaceans, worms, insect larvae; less often tadpoles, mollusks and aquatic vegetation. Having collected food in its cheek pouches, the platypus rises to the surface and, lying on the water, grinds it with its horny jaws.
Number
Currently, their population is considered relatively stable, although due to water pollution and habitat degradation, the platypus' range is becoming increasingly patchy. Some damage was also caused to it by the rabbits brought by the colonists, who, by digging holes, disturbed the platypuses, forcing them to leave their habitable places.
The platypus is protected by laws throughout Australia. Even so, it is considered a vulnerable animal due to the continuous reduction of its natural habitat due to the construction of dams, drainage and pollution of rivers. In the Melbourne area, the decline in platypus populations has resulted from an increase in the human population.
Australians created special system reserves and “sanctuaries” where platypuses can feel safe. Among them, the most famous are Healesville Nature Reserve in Victoria and West Burleigh in Queensland. The platypus is an easily excitable, timid animal, so for a long time it was not possible to export platypuses to zoos in other countries. The platypus was first successfully exported abroad in 1922, to the New York Zoo, but it only lived there for 49 days. Attempts to breed platypuses in captivity have been successful only a few times.
Platypus and man
Platypuses previously served as a commercial target due to valuable fur, however, at the beginning of the 20th century. hunting them was prohibited.
The platypus is the most primitive animal, combining the features of mammals, birds, reptiles and even fish. The platypus is so unusual that it is separated into a special order of Monotremes, which besides it consists only of echidnas and echidnas. However, he also bears little resemblance to his relatives, so he is the only kind in the platypus family.
Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).
The first thing that catches your eye when looking at a platypus is its beak. Its presence on the animal’s body is so out of place that European scientists initially considered stuffed platypuses to be fake. But observations of naturalists in nature have proven that an animal with a bird's beak actually exists. To be fair, it is worth noting that the platypus beak is indeed not entirely real. The fact is that its internal structure is not similar to that of a bird’s beak; the platypus has quite animal jaws, they are just covered with skin on the outside. But platypuses have no teeth, no ears, and one of the ovaries is underdeveloped and does not function - these are typical avian features. Also, in platypuses, the excretory openings of the genitals, bladder and intestines open into a common cloaca, which is why they are called monotremes.
The body of this animal is slightly elongated, but at the same time quite round and well-fed. The eyes are small, the auditory canals open onto the surface of the body with simple openings. The platypus does not hear and see very well, but its sense of smell is excellent. In addition, the amazing beak of the platypus gives this animal another unique quality - the ability to electrolocate. Sensitive receptors on the surface of the beak are able to detect weak electrical fields and detect moving prey. In the animal world, such abilities are noted only in sharks. The tail of the platypus is flat and wide and closely resembles that of a beaver. The paws are short, and swimming membranes are stretched between the toes. In water they help the animal to row, and when going to land they fold up and do not interfere with walking.
When walking, the platypus holds its paws on the sides of its body, and not under its body like typical mammals, which is how reptiles move.
Platypuses are also similar to reptiles due to their low, unstable body temperature. Unlike most mammals, the body temperature of the platypus is on average only 32°! Calling it warm-blooded would be a bit of a stretch; besides, its body temperature is highly dependent on temperature environment and can fluctuate between 25°-35°. At the same time, platypuses can, if necessary, maintain a relatively high body temperature, but for this they have to move and eat a lot.
The reproductive system of platypuses is very unusual for mammals: not only do females have one ovary, but they also lack a uterus, so they cannot bear young. Platypuses solve demographic problems simply - they lay eggs. But this feature makes them similar not to birds, but to reptiles. The fact is that platypus eggs are not covered with a hard calcareous shell, but with an elastic horny shell, like that of reptiles. At the same time, the platypus feeds its young with milk. It’s true that he doesn’t do it very well. Female platypuses do not have formed mammary glands; instead, milk ducts open directly onto the surface of the body; their structure is similar to sweat glands, and milk simply flows onto the abdomen into a special fold.
The body of platypuses is covered with short brown hair. These animals exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males reach a length of 50-60 cm and weigh 1.5-2 kg, females are noticeably smaller, their body length is only 30-45 cm and their weight is 0.7-1.2 kg. Moreover, the length of the tail is 8-15 cm. In addition, males differ from females in the spurs on their hind legs. In females, these spurs are present only in childhood, then they disappear; in males, their length reaches a couple of centimeters. But the most amazing thing is that these spurs secrete poison!
Poisonous platypus spur.
Among mammals it is a rare phenomenon and besides the platypus, only the gap-toothed ones can boast of it. Scientists at the Australian University in Canberra have discovered that platypuses have not one, but 5 pairs of sex chromosomes! If in all animals the combinations of sex chromosomes look like XY (males) or XX (females), then in platypuses they look like XYXYXYXYXY (males) and XXXXXXXXXX (females), and some of the platypus sex chromosomes are similar to those in birds. That's how amazing this beast is!
Platypuses are endemic to Australia, they live only on this continent and nearby islands (Tasmania, Kangaroo Islands). Previously, platypuses were found in vast areas of Southern and Eastern Australia, but now, due to severe pollution of the main water system continent, the Murray and Darling rivers, they are preserved only in the eastern part of the continent. Platypuses lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle and are therefore closely associated with bodies of water. Favorite places their habitats are quiet rivers with calm currents and slightly raised banks, usually flowing through forests. Platypuses do not live on sea coasts, the banks of mountain rivers with rapid currents, or in stagnant swamps. Platypuses are sedentary, occupy the same section of the river and do not move far from the lair. Their shelters are burrows that the animals dig on their own on the shore. The burrow has a simple structure: it is a sleeping chamber with two entrances, one entrance opens under water, the second - above the water's edge at a height of 1.2-3.6 m in a secluded place (in thickets, under tree roots).
Platypuses are nocturnal animals. They are busy searching for food early morning and in the evening, less often at night, during the day they sleep in the hole. These animals live alone; no developed social connections have been found between them. It must be said that platypuses are generally very primitive animals; they do not show much intelligence, but they are very careful. They do not like to be seen, they do not tolerate anxiety well, but where they are not bothered they can live even on the outskirts of cities. Interestingly, platypuses living in warm climates hibernate during the winter. This hibernation is short (only 5-10 days) and occurs in July before the breeding season. Biological significance hibernation is unclear, perhaps it is necessary for animals to accumulate energy reserves before the mating season.
Platypuses feed on small invertebrate animals - crustaceans, mollusks, worms, tadpoles, which are found at the bottom of reservoirs. Platypuses swim and dive well and can stay underwater for a long time. While hunting, they stir up the bottom silt with their beaks and select prey from there. The platypus places the caught living creatures in its cheeks, and then grinds the prey on the shore with toothless jaws. In order not to accidentally eat something inedible, platypuses use their electroreceptors, so they can even distinguish a motionless living creature from an inanimate object. In general, these animals are unpretentious, but quite voracious, especially during lactation. There is a known case when a female platypus ate an amount of food almost equal to her weight during the night!
Swimming platypus.
The breeding season for platypuses occurs once a year between August and November. During this period, the males swim into the females’ areas, the couple spins in a kind of dance: the male grabs the female by the tail and they swim in a circle. There are no mating fights between males; they also do not form permanent pairs. The female's pregnancy lasts only 2 weeks, during which time she is busy preparing the brood burrow. The brood hole of the platypus is longer than usual; the female arranges bedding in it. She does this with the help of... her tail, grabbing a bunch of grass, she presses it to her body with her tail and carries it into the hole. Having prepared the “bed”, the female closes the hole to protect herself from the penetration of predators. She clogs the entrance with earth, which she compacts with blows of her tail. Beavers use their tails in the same way.
Platypuses are not fertile; the female lays 1-2 (rarely 3) eggs. At first glance, they are difficult to detect in the nest because they are disproportionately small and brownish in color. The size of the platypus egg is only 1 cm, that is, the same as that of passerine birds! The female “incubates” the tiny eggs, or rather warms them, curling up around them. The incubation period depends on the temperature; in a caring mother, the eggs hatch after 7 days; in a poor hen, incubation can take up to 10 days. Platypuses hatch naked, blind and helpless, their length is 2.5 cm. Baby platypuses are as paradoxical as their parents. The fact is that they are born with teeth, the teeth remain while the female feeds the cubs with milk, and then they fall out! In all mammals the opposite happens.
Baby platypus.
The female places the cubs on her belly, and they lick the flowing milk from the fold on her abdomen. Platypuses grow very slowly; they only begin to see sight after 11 weeks! No animal has a longer period of infant blindness. The female spends a lot of time in the hole with the cubs, leaving it for a short time only to feed. 4 months after birth, the cubs move to self-catering. Platypuses live up to 10 years in the wild; in zoos, such a life expectancy is observed only with good care.
The enemies of platypuses are few. These are pythons and monitor lizards, which can crawl into holes, as well as dingoes, which catch platypuses on the shore. Although platypuses are clumsy and generally defenseless, if caught, they can use their only weapon - poisonous spurs. Platypus venom can kill dingoes, but the dose is too small and non-lethal for humans. But this does not mean that the poison is completely harmless. At the injection site, it causes swelling and severe pain that cannot be relieved with conventional painkillers. The pain may last for several days or even weeks. Such a strong pain effect can also serve as reliable protection.
The first Australian colonists hunted platypuses for their fur, but this trade quickly died out. Soon platypuses began to disappear in the surrounding area major cities due to disturbance, river pollution, land reclamation. Several reserves were created to protect them; attempts were made to breed platypuses in captivity, but this was fraught with enormous difficulties. It turned out that platypuses tolerate even slight stress very poorly; all the animals that were initially transported to other zoos soon died. For this reason, platypuses are now kept almost exclusively in Australian zoos. But great success has been achieved in their breeding; now in zoos, platypuses not only live for a long time, but also reproduce. Thanks to protection, their numbers in nature do not cause concern.
(Ornithorhynchidae); together with the echidnas, it forms the order of monotremes (Monotremata) - mammals, in a number of characteristics close to reptiles. This unique animal is one of the symbols of Australia; it appears on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin.
History of the study
The platypus was discovered in the 18th century during the colonization of New South Wales. A list of the colony's animals published in 1802 mentions "an amphibious animal of the genus Mole. Its most curious quality is that it has a duck’s beak instead of a normal mouth, allowing it to feed in the mud like birds.”
The first platypus skin was sent to England in 1797. Her appearance gave rise to fierce debate among the scientific community. At first, the skin was considered the product of some taxidermist, who sewed a duck beak to the skin of an animal similar to a beaver. George Shaw managed to dispel this suspicion, who examined the parcel and came to the conclusion that it was not a fake (for this, Shaw even cut the skin in search of stitches). The question arose as to which group of animals the platypus belongs to. After it received its scientific name, the first animals were brought to England, and it turned out that the female platypus does not have visible mammary glands, but this animal, like birds, has a cloaca. For a quarter of a century, scientists could not decide where to classify the platypus - to mammals, birds, reptiles, or even to a separate class, until in 1824 the German biologist Meckel discovered that the platypus still has mammary glands and the female feeds her young with milk. It was only proven in 1884 that the platypus lays eggs.
The zoological name was given to this strange animal in 1799 by the English naturalist George Shaw - Platypus anatinus, from ancient Greek. πλατύς - wide, flat, πούς - paw and lat. anatinus- duck. In 1800, Johann-Friedrich Blumenbach, in order to avoid homonymy with the genus of bark beetles Platypus changed the generic name to Ornithorhynchus, from ancient Greek. ὄρνις - bird, ῥύγχος - beak. Aboriginal Australians knew the platypus by many names, including mallangong, boondaburra And tambreet. Early European settlers called it duckbill, duckmole, and watermole. The name currently used in English is platypus.
Appearance
The body length of the platypus is 30-40 cm, the tail is 10-15 cm, and it weighs up to 2 kg. About a third are males larger than females. The body of the platypus is squat, short-legged; the tail is flattened, similar to the tail of a beaver, but covered with hair, which noticeably thins with age. In the tail of the platypus, like the Tasmanian devil, reserves of fat are deposited. Its fur is thick, soft, usually dark brown on the back and reddish or gray on the belly. The head is round. In front, the facial section is extended into a flat beak about 65 mm long and 50 mm wide. The beak is not hard, like that of birds, but soft, covered with elastic bare skin, which is stretched over two thin, long, arched bones. The oral cavity is expanded into cheek pouches, in which food is stored during feeding. Below, at the base of the beak, males have a specific gland that produces a secretion with a musky odor. Young platypuses have 8 teeth, but they are fragile and quickly wear out, giving way to keratinized plates.
The platypus has five-fingered feet, adapted for both swimming and digging. The swimming membrane on the front paws protrudes in front of the toes, but can bend in such a way that the claws are exposed, turning the swimming limb into a digging limb. The membranes on the hind legs are much less developed; For swimming, the platypus does not use its hind legs, like other semi-aquatic animals, but its front legs. The hind legs act as a rudder in the water, and the tail serves as a stabilizer. The gait of the platypus on land is more reminiscent of the gait of a reptile - it places its legs on the sides of the body.
Its nasal openings open on the upper side of its beak. There are no auricles. The eyes and ear openings are located in grooves on the sides of the head. When an animal dives, the edges of these grooves, like the valves of the nostrils, close, so that under water its vision, hearing, and smell are ineffective. However, the skin of the beak is rich in nerve endings, and this provides the platypus not only with a highly developed sense of touch, but also with the ability to electrolocate. The beak's electroreceptors can detect weak electrical fields, which are produced, for example, by the contraction of crustacean musculature, which aids the platypus in its search for prey. Looking for her, the platypus during spearfishing continuously moves his head from side to side.
Organ systems
Features of the senses
Platypus - only mammal having developed electroreception. Electroreceptors have also been found in the echidna, but its use of electroreception is unlikely to play a role important role in search of prey.
Features of metabolism
The platypus has a notably low metabolism compared to other mammals; his normal body temperature is only 32 °C. However, at the same time, he is excellent at regulating body temperature. Thus, being in water at 5 °C, the platypus can maintain normal body temperature for several hours by increasing its metabolic rate by more than 3 times.
Platypus poison
The platypus is one of the few venomous mammals (along with some shrews and shrews, which have toxic saliva, as well as slow lorises - unique gender known venomous primates).
Young platypuses of both sexes have rudiments of horny spurs on their hind legs. In females they disappear by the age of one year, but in males they continue to grow, reaching 1.2-1.5 cm in length by the time of puberty. Each spur is connected by a duct to the femoral gland, which produces a complex “cocktail” of poisons during the mating season. Males use spurs during mating fights. Platypus venom can kill dingoes or other small animals. For humans, it is generally not fatal, but it causes very severe pain, and swelling develops at the injection site, which gradually spreads to the entire limb. Painful sensations (hyperalgesia) can last for many days or even months.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Reproduction
Every year, platypuses enter a 5-10-day winter hibernation, after which they enter the breeding season. It lasts from August to November. Mating occurs in water. The male bites the female’s tail, and the animals swim in a circle for some time, after which mating occurs (in addition, 4 more variants of the courtship ritual have been recorded). The male covers several females; Platypuses do not form permanent pairs.
After mating, the female digs a brood hole. Unlike a regular burrow, it is longer and ends with a nesting chamber. A nest of stems and leaves is built inside; The female wears the material with her tail pressed to her stomach. Then she seals the corridor with one or more earthen plugs 15-20 cm thick to protect the hole from predators and floods. The female makes plugs with the help of her tail, which she uses like a mason uses a trowel. The inside of the nest is always moist, which prevents the eggs from drying out. The male does not take part in building the burrow and raising the young.
2 weeks after mating, the female lays 1-3 (usually 2) eggs. Platypus eggs are similar to reptile eggs - they are round, small (11 mm in diameter) and covered with an off-white leathery shell. After laying, the eggs stick together with an adhesive substance that covers them on the outside. Incubation lasts up to 10 days; During incubation, the female rarely leaves the burrow and usually lies curled up around the eggs.
Platypus babies are born naked and blind, approximately 2.5 cm long. When hatching from the egg, they pierce the shell with an egg tooth, which falls off immediately after leaving the egg. The female, lying on her back, moves them to her belly. She does not have a brood pouch. The mother feeds the cubs with milk, which comes out through the enlarged pores on her abdomen. Milk flows down the mother's fur, accumulating in special grooves, and the cubs lick it off. The mother leaves the offspring only for a short time to feed and dry the skin; leaving, she clogs the entrance with soil. The cubs' eyes open at 11 weeks. Breastfeeding continues up to 4 months; at 17 weeks, the cubs begin to leave the hole to hunt. Young platypuses reach sexual maturity at the age of 1 year.
The lifespan of platypuses in the wild is unknown; in captivity they live an average of 10 years.
Population status and conservation
Platypuses were previously hunted for their valuable fur, but at the beginning of the 20th century, hunting them was prohibited. Currently, their population is considered relatively stable, although due to water pollution and habitat degradation, the platypus' range is becoming increasingly patchy. It was also caused some damage by the rabbits brought by the colonists, who, by digging holes, disturbed the platypuses, forcing them to leave their habitable places.
Australians have created a special system of nature reserves and “sanctuaries” where platypuses can feel safe. Among them, the most famous are Healesville Nature Reserve in Victoria and West Burleigh in Queensland. The platypus is an easily excitable, timid animal, so for a long time it was not possible to export platypuses to zoos in other countries. The platypus was first successfully exported abroad in 1922 to the New York Zoo, but it only lived there for 49 days. Attempts to breed platypuses in captivity have been successful only a few times.
Evolution of the platypus
Monotremes are the surviving members of one of the earliest mammalian lineages. The age of the oldest monotreme discovered in Australia is 110 million years ( Steropodon). It was a small, rodent-like animal that was nocturnal and, most likely, did not lay eggs, but gave birth to severely underdeveloped cubs. A fossilized tooth from another fossil platypus (Obdurodon), found in 1991 in Patagonia (Argentina), indicates that it is likely that the platypus' ancestors came to Australia from South America, when those continents formed part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland. The closest ancestors of the modern platypus appeared about 4.5 million years ago, while the earliest fossil specimen itself Ornithorhynchus anatinus dates back to the Pleistocene. Fossil platypuses resembled modern ones, but were smaller in size.
In May 2008, it was announced that the platypus genome had been deciphered.
Platypuses in culture
Platypuses are characters in several animated series, such as Phineas and Ferb and The Tasmanian Devil.
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Notes
Literature
- M. L. Augee: Platypus and Echidnas. The Royal Zoological Society, New South Wales 1992. ISBN 0-9599951-6-1.
- T. R. Grant: Fauna of Australia. 16. Ornithorhynchidae.
- Bernhard Grzimek: Grzimeks Tierleben. Bd 10. Säugetiere 1. Droemer Knaur, München 1967, Bechtermünz, Augsburg 2000. ISBN 3-8289-1603-1.
- Ann Moyal: Platypus. The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World. Smithsonian Press, Washington DC 2001. ISBN 1-56098-977-7.
- Ronald Strahan: Mammals of Australia. Smithsonian Press, Washington DC 1996. ISBN 1-56098-673-5.
- Jaime Gongora, Amelia B. Swan et al.: . Journal of Zoology. Vol. 286, Iss. 2, pp. 110–119, February 2012.
Links
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- (English)
- Jaime Gongora, Amelia B. Swan et al.,: Genetic structure and phylogeography of platypuses revealed by mitochondrial DNA. Journal of Zoology. Vol. 286, Iss. 2, pp. 110–119, February 2012.
Excerpt characterizing the Platypus
It was not new for him to believe that his presence at all ends of the world, from Africa to the steppes of Muscovy, equally amazes and plunges people into the madness of self-forgetfulness. He ordered a horse to be brought to him and rode to his camp.About forty lancers drowned in the river, despite the boats sent to help. Most washed back to this shore. The colonel and several people swam across the river and with difficulty climbed out to the other bank. But as soon as they got out with their wet dress flopping around them and dripping in streams, they shouted: “Vivat!”, looking enthusiastically at the place where Napoleon stood, but where he was no longer there, and at that moment they considered themselves happy.
In the evening, Napoleon between two orders - one about delivering the prepared counterfeit Russian banknotes for import into Russia as soon as possible, and the other about shooting the Saxon, in whose intercepted letter information about orders for French army, - made a third order - to assign the Polish colonel, who unnecessarily threw himself into the river, to the cohort of honor (Legion d'honneur), of which Napoleon was the head.
Qnos vult perdere – dementat. [Whoever he wants to destroy, he will deprive him of his mind (lat.)]
Meanwhile, the Russian emperor had already lived in Vilna for more than a month, making reviews and maneuvers. Nothing was ready for the war that everyone expected and for which the emperor came from St. Petersburg to prepare. There was no general plan of action. Hesitation about which plan, out of all those that were proposed, should be adopted, only intensified even more after the emperor's month-long stay in the main apartment. The three armies each had a separate commander-in-chief, but there was no common commander over all the armies, and the emperor did not assume this title.
How lived longer The emperor in Vilna prepared less and less for war, tired of waiting for it. All the aspirations of the people surrounding the sovereign seemed to be aimed only at making the sovereign, while having a pleasant time, forget about the upcoming war.
After many balls and holidays among the Polish magnates, among the courtiers and the sovereign himself, in June one of the Polish general adjutants of the sovereign came up with the idea of giving a dinner and ball to the sovereign on behalf of his general adjutants. This idea was joyfully accepted by everyone. The Emperor agreed. The general's adjutants collected money by subscription. The person who could be most pleasing to the sovereign was invited to be the hostess of the ball. Count Bennigsen, a landowner of the Vilna province, offered his country house for this holiday, and on June 13 a dinner, ball, boat ride and fireworks display were scheduled at Zakret, Count Bennigsen's country house.
On the very day on which Napoleon gave the order to cross the Neman and his advanced troops, pushing back the Cossacks, crossed the Russian border, Alexander spent the evening at Bennigsen’s dacha - at a ball given by the general’s adjutants.
It was a cheerful, brilliant holiday; experts in the business said that rarely so many beauties gathered in one place. Countess Bezukhova, along with other Russian ladies who came for the sovereign from St. Petersburg to Vilna, was at this ball, darkening the sophisticated Polish ladies with her heavy, so-called Russian beauty. She was noticed, and the sovereign honored her with a dance.
Boris Drubetskoy, en garcon (a bachelor), as he said, having left his wife in Moscow, was also at this ball and, although not an adjutant general, was a participant for a large sum in the subscription for the ball. Boris was now a rich man, far gone in honor, no longer seeking patronage, but standing on an even footing with the highest of his peers.
At twelve o'clock at night they were still dancing. Helen, who did not have a worthy gentleman, herself offered the mazurka to Boris. They sat in the third pair. Boris, coolly looking at Helen's shiny bare shoulders protruding from her dark gauze and gold dress, talked about old acquaintances and at the same time, unnoticed by himself and others, never for a second stopped watching the sovereign, who was in the same room. The Emperor did not dance; he stood in the doorway and stopped first one or the other with those gentle words that he alone knew how to speak.
At the beginning of the mazurka, Boris saw that General Adjutant Balashev, one of the closest persons to the sovereign, approached him and stood un-courtly close to the sovereign, who was speaking with a Polish lady. After talking with the lady, the sovereign looked questioningly and, apparently, realizing that Balashev did so only because there were reasons for it. important reasons, nodded slightly to the lady and turned to Balashev. As soon as Balashev began to speak, surprise was expressed on the sovereign’s face. He took Balashev by the arm and walked with him through the hall, unconsciously clearing three fathoms of wide road on both sides of those who stood aside in front of him. Boris noticed Arakcheev's excited face while the sovereign walked with Balashev. Arakcheev, looking from under his brows at the sovereign and snoring his red nose, moved out of the crowd, as if expecting that the sovereign would turn to him. (Boris realized that Arakcheev was jealous of Balashev and was dissatisfied that some obviously important news was not conveyed to the sovereign through him.)
But the sovereign and Balashev walked, without noticing Arakcheev, through the exit door into the illuminated garden. Arakcheev, holding his sword and looking around angrily, walked about twenty paces behind them.
While Boris continued to make mazurka figures, he was constantly tormented by the thought of what news Balashev had brought and how to find out about it before others.
In the figure where he had to choose ladies, whispering to Helen that he wanted to take Countess Pototskaya, who seemed to have gone out onto the balcony, he, sliding his feet along the parquet floor, ran out the exit door into the garden and, noticing the sovereign entering the terrace with Balashev , paused. The Emperor and Balashev headed towards the door. Boris, in a hurry, as if not having time to move away, respectfully pressed himself against the lintel and bowed his head.
With the emotion of a personally insulted man, the Emperor finished the following words:
- Enter Russia without declaring war. “I will make peace only when not a single armed enemy remains on my land,” he said. It seemed to Boris that the sovereign was pleased to express these words: he was pleased with the form of expression of his thoughts, but was dissatisfied with the fact that Boris heard them.
- So that no one knows anything! – the sovereign added, frowning. Boris realized that this applied to him, and, closing his eyes, bowed his head slightly. The Emperor again entered the hall and remained at the ball for about half an hour.
Boris was the first to learn the news about the crossing of the Neman by French troops and thanks to this he had the opportunity to show some important persons that he knew many things hidden from others, and through this he had the opportunity to rise higher in the opinion of these persons.
The unexpected news about the French crossing the Neman was especially unexpected after a month of unfulfilled anticipation, and at a ball! The Emperor, at the first minute of receiving the news, under the influence of indignation and insult, found what later became famous, a saying that he himself liked and fully expressed his feelings. Returning home from the ball, the sovereign at two o'clock in the morning sent for secretary Shishkov and ordered to write an order to the troops and a rescript to Field Marshal Prince Saltykov, in which he certainly demanded that the words be placed that he would not make peace until at least one the armed Frenchman will remain on Russian soil.
The next day the following letter was written to Napoleon.
“Monsieur mon frere. J"ai appris hier que malgre la loyaute avec laquelle j"ai maintenu mes engagements envers Votre Majeste, ses troupes ont franchis les frontieres de la Russie, et je recois a l"instant de Petersbourg une note par laquelle le comte Lauriston, pour cause de cette aggression, annonce que Votre Majeste s"est consideree comme en etat de guerre avec moi des le moment ou le prince Kourakine a fait la demande de ses passeports. Les motifs sur lesquels le duc de Bassano fondait son refus de les lui delivrer, n "auraient jamais pu me faire supposer que cette demarche servirait jamais de pretexte a l" aggression. En effet cet ambassadeur n"y a jamais ete autorise comme il l"a declare lui meme, et aussitot que j"en fus informe, je lui ai fait connaitre combien je le desapprouvais en lui donnant l"ordre de rester a son poste. Si Votre Majeste n"est pas intentionnee de verser le sang de nos peuples pour un malentendu de ce genre et qu"elle consente a retirer ses troupes du territoire russe, je regarderai ce qui s"est passe comme non avenu, et un accommodement entre nous sera possible. Dans le cas contraire, Votre Majeste, je me verrai force de repousser une attaque que rien n"a provoquee de ma part. Il depend encore de Votre Majeste d"eviter a l"humanite les calamites d"une nouvelle guerre.
Je suis, etc.
(signe) Alexandre.”
[“My lord brother! Yesterday it dawned on me that, despite the straightforwardness with which I observed my obligations towards Your Imperial Majesty, your troops crossed the Russian borders, and only now have I received a note from St. Petersburg, with which Count Lauriston informs me about this invasion, that Your Majesty considers yourself to be on hostile terms with me from the time Prince Kurakin demanded his passports. The reasons on which the Duke of Bassano based his refusal to issue these passports could never have led me to suppose that the act of my ambassador served as a reason for the attack. And in fact, he did not have a command from me to do this, as he himself announced; and as soon as I learned about this, I immediately expressed my displeasure to Prince Kurakin, ordering him to carry out the duties entrusted to him as before. If Your Majesty is not inclined to shed the blood of our subjects because of such a misunderstanding and if you agree to withdraw your troops from Russian possessions, then I will ignore everything that happened, and an agreement between us will be possible. Otherwise, I will be forced to repel an attack that was not provoked by anything on my part. Your Majesty, you still have the opportunity to save humanity from the scourge of a new war.
(signed) Alexander.” ]
On June 13, at two o'clock in the morning, the sovereign, calling Balashev to him and reading him his letter to Napoleon, ordered him to take this letter and personally hand it over to the French emperor. Sending Balashev away, the sovereign again repeated to him the words that he would not make peace until at least one armed enemy remained on Russian soil, and ordered that these words be conveyed to Napoleon without fail. The Emperor did not write these words in the letter, because he felt with his tact that these words were inconvenient to convey at the moment when the last attempt at reconciliation was being made; but he certainly ordered Balashev to hand them over to Napoleon personally.
Having left on the night of June 13th to 14th, Balashev, accompanied by a trumpeter and two Cossacks, arrived at dawn in the village of Rykonty, at the French outposts on this side of the Neman. He was stopped by French cavalry sentries.
A French hussar non-commissioned officer, in a crimson uniform and a shaggy hat, shouted at Balashev as he approached, ordering him to stop. Balashev did not stop immediately, but continued to walk along the road.
The non-commissioned officer, frowning and muttering some kind of curse, advanced with the chest of his horse towards Balashev, took up his saber and rudely shouted at the Russian general, asking him: is he deaf, that he does not hear what is being said to him. Balashev identified himself. The non-commissioned officer sent the soldier to the officer.
Not paying attention to Balashev, the non-commissioned officer began to talk with his comrades about his regimental affairs and did not look at the Russian general.
It was unusually strange for Balashev, after being close to the highest power and might, after a conversation three hours ago with the sovereign and generally accustomed to honors from his service, to see here, on Russian soil, this hostile and, most importantly, disrespectful attitude toward himself of brute force.
The sun was just beginning to rise from behind the clouds; the air was fresh and dewy. On the way, the herd was driven out of the village. In the fields, one by one, like bubbles in water, the larks burst into life with a hooting sound.
Balashev looked around him, waiting for the arrival of an officer from the village. The Russian Cossacks, the trumpeter, and the French hussars silently looked at each other from time to time.
A French hussar colonel, apparently just out of bed, rode out of the village on a beautiful, well-fed gray horse, accompanied by two hussars. The officer, the soldiers and their horses wore an air of contentment and panache.
This was the first time of the campaign, when the troops were still in good order, almost equal to the inspection, peaceful activity, only with a touch of smart belligerence in clothing and with a moral connotation of that fun and enterprise that always accompany the beginning of campaigns.
The French colonel had difficulty holding back a yawn, but was courteous and, apparently, understood the full significance of Balashev. He led him past his soldiers by the chain and said that his desire to be presented to the emperor would probably be fulfilled immediately, since the imperial apartment, as far as he knew, was not far away.
They drove through the village of Rykonty, past French hussar hitching posts, sentries and soldiers saluting their colonel and curiously examining the Russian uniform, and drove out to the other side of the village. According to the colonel, the division chief was two kilometers away, who would receive Balashev and see him off to his destination.
The sun had already risen and shone cheerfully on the bright greenery.
They had just left the tavern on the mountain when a group of horsemen appeared towards them from under the mountain, in front of which rode a black horse with harness shining in the sun. tall a man in a hat with feathers and black, shoulder-length curled hair, in a red robe and with long legs, stuck out forward, like the French drive. This man galloped towards Balashev, his feathers, stones and gold braid shining and fluttering in the bright June sun.
Balashev was already two horses away from the horseman galloping towards him with a solemnly theatrical face in bracelets, feathers, necklaces and gold, when Yulner, the French colonel, respectfully whispered: “Le roi de Naples.” [King of Naples.] Indeed, it was Murat, now called the King of Naples. Although it was completely incomprehensible why he was the Neapolitan king, he was called that, and he himself was convinced of this and therefore had a more solemn and important view than before. He was so sure that he was really the Neapolitan king that when, on the eve of his departure from Naples, while he was walking with his wife through the streets of Naples, several Italians shouted to him: “Viva il re!” [Long live the king! (Italian) ] he turned to his wife with a sad smile and said: “Les malheureux, ils ne savent pas que je les quitte demain! [Unhappy people, they don’t know that I’m leaving them tomorrow!]
But despite the fact that he firmly believed that he was the Neapolitan king, and that he regretted the sorrow of his subjects leaving him, in lately, after he was ordered to enter the service again, and especially after a meeting with Napoleon in Danzig, when the august brother-in-law told him: “Je vous ai fait Roi pour regner a maniere, mais pas a la votre,” [I have made you king in order to reign not in his own way, but in mine.] - he cheerfully set about a task familiar to him and, like a well-fed, but not fat, horse fit for service, feeling himself in the harness, began to play in the shafts and, having discharged himself as colorfully as possible and dearer, cheerful and contented, he galloped, not knowing where or why, along the roads of Poland.
Seeing the Russian general, he royally and solemnly threw back his head with shoulder-length curled hair and looked questioningly at the French colonel. The Colonel respectfully conveyed to His Majesty the significance of Balashev, whose surname he could not pronounce.
- De Bal macheve! - said the king (with his decisiveness overcoming the difficulty presented to the colonel), - charme de faire votre connaissance, general, [it’s very nice to meet you, general] - he added with a royally gracious gesture. As soon as the king began to speak loudly and quickly, all royal dignity instantly left him, and he, without noticing it, switched to his characteristic tone of good-natured familiarity. He put his hand on the withers of Balashev's horse.
Platypus – endemic to Australia, and also one of the most unusual representatives animal world of our planet.
About this mysterious, strange, shy creature that has very unusual appearance , they say it’s a joke of the Creator, who allegedly created this beast from parts of other representatives of the fauna.
A large beak on the head, reptilian limbs and a massive tail like a beaver - the appearance of the platypus is strange and bizarre. If you are wondering where the platypus lives, its lifestyle features and other facts about the life of this animal, then information below for you.
The platypus (platypus - "flat foot") is waterfowl mammals, as well as the only modern representative of the platypus family that lives in Australia.
Platypus in Australia is a symbol. The image of this animal is on the reverse of the Australian twenty-cent coin.
At the end of the 18th century An unusual animal with a beak instead of a nose and a beaver tail was discovered by scientists during the colonization of New South Wales.
For more detailed observation, the skin of the animal was transported to Great Britain, where even great minds mistook the platypus for a fake.
Back then, Chinese taxidermists could connect different parts of an animal's body to create intricate stuffed animals. Managed to dispel the “authenticity” of the platypus George Shaw, which gave the animal its name.
Interesting fact! There is a saying in Australia that when God created animal world and discovered a residual " building material"(duck nose, sharp claws, beaver tail, rooster spurs), I decided to create a platypus from these parts of other animals.
For more than 25 years, scientists did not know what species to classify this animal as. But in 1824 German biologist Meckel discovered mammary glands in a female platypus. But the fact that this animal lays eggs and does not bear cubs became known only towards the end of the 19th century.
To this day, evolutionary experts cannot explain the specific anatomy and physiological characteristics of the platypus. Various features of this amazing animal baffles evolutionists.
Where does the platypus live, what does it eat and its appearance?
Platypus lives in Australia on the east coast, as well as on the island of Tasmania.
In addition, platypuses artificially introduced to the southern Kangaroo Island, where they thrive and breed.
Platypus leads nocturnal semi-aquatic lifestyle. The animal is an excellent swimmer and can dive underwater for up to five minutes. The animal spends up to ten hours a day in water.
The platypus lives near the swamps. It can live both in warm tropical eucalyptus lagoons and near high-altitude cold rivers. Platypuses build deep shelter holes to drain water from their coats. This is where they breed their offspring.
Platypus length can grow from 30 to 40 cm, and the tail reaches 10-15 cm. The fur of the platypus is soft and dense, gray or reddish in color on the belly and dark brown on the back.
Interesting fact! At the base of the male’s beak there is a specific gland that produces a musky-smelling secretion.
The skin of the platypus beak has nerve endings that provide not only excellent sense of touch, but also the ability to electrolocate, and, accordingly, quickly search for prey.
The platypus, thanks to the special structure of its paws, can not only dig the ground, but also great to swim. In water the animal moves much more actively. On land it walks slowly, like a reptile.
As for mass, then On average, a platypus weighs 2 kg. The males of this animal are significantly larger than the females.
Platypuses spend a lot of time searching for food– 8-10 hours. They mostly get food in the water, but often find something to eat on land.
By turning over rocks near the shore with their powerful claws or beaks, they catch larvae, bugs and worms. Platypuses eat in the water tadpoles, frogs, small fish and even aquatic vegetation.
Every year platypuses fall into a 5-10 day winter hibernation, after which they begin the breeding season. It lasts from August to November. Mating occurs in water. Platypuses do not form permanent pairs.
After mating, the female digs a brood hole and after 2 weeks lays 1-3 eggs. The male does not take part in building the burrow and raising the young.
Duck-billed Animal Protection
Until the beginning of the 20th century The fur of the platypus was very valuable and they were exterminated for the sake of soft fur.
However, with the advent of the twentieth century hunting these animals was prohibited.
Today the platypus population considered stable. However, pollution and degradation of the animal's habitat have caused its range to become patchy.
Also the population was damaged by 19th century colonists, who brought rabbits to the Green Continent, displacing platypuses from their homes.
Today in Australia there are special protected reserves zones, where these animals feel completely safe. In Victoria, the platypus can be seen in the Healesville Nature Reserve, and in Queensland in the protected West Burghley pair.
Important to know! Since the platypus is a shy animal, for a long time It was not possible to take this animal to zoos on other continents. This animal was first exported abroad only in the twenties of the 20th century to the New York Zoo. He lived in an unnatural environment for an animal for only forty-nine days.
Platypus - indeed strange and cute creature, whose external features cannot but surprise. This animal lives exclusively in Australia, which once again proves the uniqueness of the flora and fauna of the Green Continent.
In conclusion, we invite you to watch interesting video about amazing creation animal world– platypus:
The platypus is a waterfowl belonging to the class of mammals of the order Monotremes, or oviparous. This order includes only two families - platypuses and echidnas. The main difference between platypuses and echidnas from other mammals is their ability to lay eggs.
Where does the platypus live?
The platypus lives only in Australia. In the eastern part of the mainland, the animal's range is quite extensive - from the Australian Alps and the Tasmanian plateau to the warm rain forests of Queensland. In the northern part of Australia, the platypus is found up to the Cape York Peninsula, and in central and southern Australia it is completely extinct, with the exception of the island. Kangaroos and the Murray-Darling River Basin. The reason for the disappearance of the platypus in the above regions was pollution river waters and intensive hunting for it until the beginning of the twentieth century.
The platypus lives only near shores with clean and fresh water. The platypus's home is a hole up to 10 meters long with two entrances. One entrance is in the water, and the other is above the water at a height of 1-3.5 m. Most platypuses are nocturnal, but there are also individuals that hunt well during the day.
What does the platypus eat?
Platypuses spend a lot of time searching for food - from 8 to 10 hours. Mostly by getting it in the water, although they often find something to profit from on land. Turning over stones near the shore with powerful claws or beaks, they often catch various beetles, larvae, worms and snails. In the water, platypuses eat small fish, crustaceans, tadpoles, frogs and even aquatic vegetation. To maintain vitality, an animal needs to eat about a quarter every day. own weight various living creatures.
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