Brought to you by Planet Warrior Education, Odonata and Outback Academy Australia
THE ECOLOGY OF THE PLATYPUS
Explore our free downloadable education pack
Advance your knowledge and understanding of the platypus by downloading our free education pack. Created by Planet Warrior Education, this illustrated education experience is suitable for wildlife explorers aged 12+. The education pack includes a pre-made lesson and a printable poster.
Planet Warrior and our collaborators, Odonata and Outback Academy Australia acknowledge Australia’s First Nations People across Australia. We appreciate the role First Nations People play today, and have played for all time in keeping Country and all within it healthy and protected. The platypus is special to many nations, featuring in many Dreaming Stories. We look forward to collaborating with First Nations Peoples across Australia as we learn more about the platypus and protect them for generations to follow.
Learning outcomes
In this lesson, you will learn about the cultural significance of the platypus and how they feature in the Dreaming Stories of many Australian First Nations people across Australia
You will explore how we classify living things based on shared and common characteristics. You will learn about the basic ecology of the platypus, including its characteristics, behaviour, breeding, distribution and conservation status.
Finally, you will discover the main threats that platypus currently faces and how water sampling, eDNA testing and citizen science are playing a major role in platypus conservation.
Platypus Facts
Fact One
Did you know that the male platypus has spurs on his hind legs?
These spurs are connected to venom glands above the thighs. The males use these spurs to compete with other males for territory and females during the breeding season.
Fact two
Did you know that after a female platypus lays her eggs, she will curl around them, incubating them for seven to ten days?
Once a female has completed her burrow, she will block the entry with soil in preparation to lay eggs. Blocking the burrow also allows temperature and humidity to regulate for incubation. These burrows not only provide a safe place to raise young but also a safe place to hide from predators; this makes them essential for the species’ survival.
Fact three
Did you know that a Platypus creates a burrow?
Platypodes prefer freshwater rivers, streams, creeks, and lagoons with steep banks that have overhanging vegetation and logs, as well as root systems within the soil.
A platypus will burrow into the bank just above the water level, often amongst root systems. Nesting burrows up to thirty meters long have been recorded!
Fact four
Did you know platypodes use their bills as a ‘sixth sense’ to detect electric signals within the water similar to the ampullae of Lorenzini that a shark utilises?
The electroreceptors in their bill allow them to detect miniscule amounts of movement within the water. This comes in handy when they are searching for bottom-dwelling invertebrates, small vertebrates like frogs and fish to feast on.
About Planet Warrior Education
Planet Warrior Education is an Australian education organisation for children. PWE is run by a small team of environmental scientists, graphics designers and Earth lovers who believe that the next generation is key to a sustainable future for all life on Earth. PWE specialise in creating highly engaging and colourful learning experiences that advance children’s scientific knowledge and strengthen their bond with the natural world.
PWE is a trusted and growing education organisation that works with high-profile organisations such as Odonata, CJ Arms and the NSW government through the Saving our Species program.
PWE’s notable activity books, online science school and workshops all align with the Australian Science curriculum, present environmental challenges in a positive and solution-based manner and empower children to improve sustainability within their household and community.
