~Anatomy~Introduction~Food~Ecology~
~Anatomy~Introduction~Food~Ecology~
Distribution
The platypus is a uniquely Australian animal, but fossils lead us to believe that
it lived in South America 63 million years ago. It can be found all along the
east coast, from Townsville right down into Tasmania. Although it is often
believed to be an endangered species, the platypus is actually very common.
It can be found in 26 of the 31 river systems in Victoria, covering the same
area as before European settlement. However, numbers have declined in the
areas close to Melbourne.
Typical Habitat
Platypus are solitary animals, but they often share territories. A typical habitat
has running water, logs and snags to conceal entrances to burrows.
Platypus can live in man made water bodies, as long as they are permanent.
Any given point in a clean, suitable stream will be used by 3-5 platypus in a
year. Males have been known to travel 6 kilometres in a single night, while
females travel less than 2km.
The burrow
The platypus sleeps in a burrow for up to 17 hours a day. Most platypus use
several burrows along the stream, and occasionly share with another adult.
The average camping burrow is 1-3 metres long, the entrance hidden either
underwater or just above the water level. An adult platypus uses its long
claws to dig through the soft bank, and it has been calculated that one metre
of tunnel can be dug in two hours.
While a female platypus is nursing her young, she builds a long tunnel, up to
20 metres long, ending in a nest chamber. The tunnel is plugged with earth at
several places along its length, to put off predators. The entrance to the
nursery burrow is located far above the water line, probably so that the infant
platypus inside will not drown in a flood.
