Platypus Platypus

By Nick DaviesBy Nick DaviesGrade 6 Grade 6

Fesseden SchoolFesseden School

Scientific classificationScientific classificationKingdom:Kingdom: animalanimal

Phylum: Phylum: chordatachordata

Class:Class: mammal mammal

Order: Order: monotrematamonotremata

Family: Family: ornithorhynchidaornithorhynchidaee

AppearanceAppearanceBrown furBrown furHas a beaver tail Has a beaver tail A bill ( beak ) A bill ( beak ) Has webbed hands and feetHas webbed hands and feetThe male platypus has a claw of The male platypus has a claw of

venom behind their hind legsvenom behind their hind legsThey have small eyes They have small eyes Their ears with an acute sense of Their ears with an acute sense of

hearinghearing

Habitat Habitat Australia and Tasmania Australia and Tasmania Live in rivers by the land Live in rivers by the land They live in marshy areas They live in marshy areas The green shows where they live The green shows where they live

Life cycleLife cycle Male and female platypus can breed when Male and female platypus can breed when

they are about two years oldthey are about two years old They mate in the waterThey mate in the water The female lays one or two white eggs in a The female lays one or two white eggs in a

nesting burrow which she digs in a nesting burrow which she digs in a riverbankriverbank

The eggs hatch about a week later The eggs hatch about a week later A tooth on the tip of the platypus bill is A tooth on the tip of the platypus bill is

there to break out of the soft-shelled eggthere to break out of the soft-shelled egg When they are about three months old, the When they are about three months old, the

young platypus leaves it’s burrow and learn young platypus leaves it’s burrow and learn to swim and hunt for foodto swim and hunt for food

Diet Diet Fresh shrimpFresh shrimpWormsWormsYabbies and crayfishYabbies and crayfish

Predators Predators Red foxesRed foxesFeral catsFeral catsMain predators human Main predators human

How can this species help the How can this species help the environment environment

By keeping a balance on the By keeping a balance on the population of crayfish, shrimp, and population of crayfish, shrimp, and yabbiesyabbies

How do humans impact the How do humans impact the environment of the platypus environment of the platypus

By polluting By polluting Also by hunting themAlso by hunting them

What can humans do to help What can humans do to help the platypusthe platypus

Humans can stop polluting the water Humans can stop polluting the water and landand land

They can stop hunting themThey can stop hunting them

Interesting facts Interesting facts Until the 20Until the 20thth century platypus were century platypus were

hunted for their furhunted for their furThe platypus was discovered between The platypus was discovered between

5,000 years ago to 40,000 years ago5,000 years ago to 40,000 years ago It is on the Australian It is on the Australian 20 cent coin20 cent coin Its venom will kill smallIts venom will kill small animals but not humans animals but not humans

Interesting factsInteresting factsScientist originally thought it was a Scientist originally thought it was a

fake made up by taxidermistsfake made up by taxidermists It is a combination of a duck and a It is a combination of a duck and a

beaverbeaver

References References Wikipedia.comWikipedia.comYouTube.comYouTube.com

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