After 3-4 months, towards the end of the summer, the young emerge from the burrow as young independent animals. The female spends most of this time with her young in the burrow, and as the young grow she increasingly leaves them to forage. Gestation lasts 21 days and during this egg incubation period, a female holds 1-3 eggs pressed by her tail to her belly, while curled up.Ĭare for young: When the young hatch, the female starts secreting milk and the young Platypuses suckle from the two milk patches covered by fur on the female’s abdomen. She spends a further 4-5 days collecting wet nesting material to prevent her eggs and hatchlings from drying out. Gestation: After mating, a pregnant female builds a nest in a long complex burrow in less than a week. Mating: Platypus reach sexual maturity around 2 years of age. They store their food in their cheek-pouches then chew the food using horny, grinding plates, while they float to rest on the water surface. They forage most of their food from the bottom of the river however they occasionally catch cicadas and moths from the water surface. Platypus weight varies considerably from 0.7 to 2.4 kg (1.5 to 5.3 lb), with males being larger than females males average 50 cm (20 in) in total length, while females average 43 cm. Size: Males 50cm in length and females 43 cm in length.ĭiet: Platypus are carnivores and feed on aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae, shrimps, swimming beetles, water bugs, tadpoles, worms, freshwater pea mussels and snails. The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) also known as the Duck-Billed Platypus is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Life Span: Average life span is between 4-8 years, although they have lived as long as 17years in zoos. Habitat: Platypus are semi aquatic mammals living in fresh water streams, lakes and river systems and creating burrows for shelter and protection. They are also occasionally found in South Australia. Taronga Institute of Science & Learningĭistribution: Platypus can be found along the East Coast of mainland Australia, including Tasmania.She is a James Beard Award winner and served as restaurant critic for LA Weekly for five years. Assessment, Triage and Treatment of Bushfire Affected Wildlife Module Besha Rodell is a critic, columnist and freelance reporter based in Melbourne, Australia. ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (QLD school students).
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