The Unusual Platypus: Common but Vulnerable

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The Unusual PlatypusCommon but Vulnerable
Sample PowerPoint Presentation

• A PowerPoint Presentation
• By Mrs. Perry

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What EXACTLY is a Platypus?

• The platypus (also commonly referred to as a
  duck billed platypus) has several reptilian
  characteristics which includes the ability to lay
  eggs.  Even though the platypus has some reptile
  characteristics, it is overall much more
  mammalian than reptilian. The platypus is a
  Monotreme. It is one of the most primitive
  mammals, but it is a mammal. Even though it lays
  eggs it produces milk, is warm-blooded, and has
  fur. It is one of the worlds most unusual
  mammals.

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Physical Description

• Platypuses
• are about the size of a household cat and weigh
  about 1 2 kilograms.
• are completely covered with thick, waterproof
  hair except for their bills and webbed feet.
• have a sensitive, leathery blue-gray bill that
  can detect electrical currents.
• have four legs with webbed feet to help them
  swim.
• do not have teeth, instead they have grinding
  plates to chew food.
• have a wide, beaver like tail that helps them
  swim.

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Where Would You Find A Platypus?

• The platypus is found in all freshwater creeks,
  rivers, and lakes of eastern Australia.  They
  like long, slow flowing, shallow pools with solid
  angled banks, with plenty of plants, and a good
  quantity of  water-dwelling  invertebrates to
  eat. 
• The platypus is protected by law throughout
  Australia.  Even though it is common in
  Australia, it is considered vulnerable due to the
  continuing loss of its natural habitat due to
  damming, drainage, and pollution.  The population
  of platypuses has declined in areas close to
  Melbourne due to human population growth.

Australia
Platypus Habitat
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Status of the Platypus

• The platypus is officially classified as "Common
  but Vulnerable" in Australia. As a species, it is
  not currently considered to be endangered.
• However, platypus populations are believed to
  have declined or disappeared in many catchments,
  particularly in urban and agricultural
  landscapes. In most cases, the specific
  underlying reasons for the reduction in numbers
  remain unknown.

The growth of cities, like Sidney (the capital of
Australia) could lead to the decline of the
platypus.
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Unusual Facts

• The platypus is the world's only venomous furred
  animal.  All platypuses are born with spurs on
  their hind feet.  The spurs on the female fall
  off after the first year.  The spurs on males
  become venomous during the breeding season.
• The female platypus lays eggs. When the babies
  hatch, she produces milk that she secretes right
  through her skin to feed them.

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More Unusual Facts

• When European scientists first saw a platypus
  pelt, they thought it was a hoax (a fake)! They
  didnt think such an animal could exist! One
  scientist even took a scissors to the pelt
  expecting to find stitches where the bill was
  attached to the rest of the body!
• The platypuss closest relatives are the two
  types of echidna (spiny anteater) that also live
  in Australia. They are the only three egg laying
  mammals alive.

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What I Think

• I feel that the platypus is a unique animal in
  our world and that it is an important one to
  learn about. It is an animal that can teach us
  so much about how animals evolved by studying
  its special traits. What other animal on this
  planet has traits of reptiles, birds, and
  mammals? Even though the platypus is not yet
  endangered, human encroachment is affecting its
  habitat. Australia has taken steps to protect
  the platypus and hopefully this will help
  preserve this creature in the future.

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Bibliography

• Agnew, George. Platypus 12 January 2006
  lthttp//www.platypus.org.uk/gt
• Grant, Tom. The Unusual Platypus. Sydney
  University of New South Wales, 1989.
• The Australian Platypus Conservatory. The
  Platypus, A Very Special Australian. 14 January
  2006 lthttp//www.platypus.asn.au/gt
• The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum.
  Platypus. 14 January 2006 lthttp//internt.nhm.ac
  .uk/jdsml/museum/tring/highlights/detail.dsml?begi
  nIndex7listPageURLindex.dsml3Fgt
• Platypus. The World Book Encyclopedia. 1995.