fauna inspiration –young zoo rangers

8/2/2019 Fauna Inspiration Young Zoo Rangers

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BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION OF PROSTISTA AND ANIMALIA(SBB 3023)


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Local name : Platypus

Scientific name: OrnithorhynchusanatinusKingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : MammaliaOrder : Monotremata

Family : Ornithorhynchidae

Genus : Ornithorhynchas


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HABITAT and BEHAVIOUR Only in eastern Australia, where they live on the edges of

rivers and freshwater lakes.

Best streams are ones where the banks are strongenough for building their deep burrows, and often thesebanks overhang the river.

During the day, a Platypus often rests in this burrow, but itmay spend some hours near the entrance to the burrow,

basking in the sun and grooming its dense fur.

Most active for several hours after dusk and before dawn.


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DESCRIPTION

Body and the broad, flat tail are covered with densebrown.

Males larger than female. Has webbed feet and large, rubbery snout. Snout is sensory organ with the mouth on the

underside. Average body temperature= 32 3 layer of fur.

The platypus has two ovaries but only onefunctions.. Specifically, the left ovary is thefunctioning ovary


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Male has a sharp, hollow, horny spur on the inside ofboth hind leg ankles that connected with to a venomgland which produce very strong toxin.

Feeds at night with its sensitive, flexible, duck-likesnout, aided by electronic sense.

excellent swimmer-absence of visible ears.

is a carnivore Only the babies.The baby has molars. An adult

platypus has grinding pads in its bill.

. Its fur is thick, it stores fat in its tail, it can speed or

slow its heart rate.a platypus is well-suited to cold-weather living.


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Platypuses locatetheir prey with the

help of electricsignals from their

bodies, with sensorson their bill

Since the femaleplatypus does not

have nipples, itsyoung ones suck

milk from patches onthe on the abdomen

It is more dense thanmost other animals' fur..

A platypus has about 800hairs per square

millimeter, which is morehairs per square

millimeter than the river

otter or polar bear.

A platypus mustconsume at least one

quarter of its bodyweight each day. This

is why; it spendsaround 12 hrs everyday looking for food

When a platypus ison land, it turns backthe webs on its front

feet, in order toreveal broad nails

that help it in walking

A platypus has a flatfurry tail that storesfats for the winterseason. The tail is

also used as a

rudder for steering.

The female platypuslays 1 to 3 eggs,

which she incubatesbetween her

abdomen and tail

A platypus swims with itseyes, ears and nostrils shut.It propels forward with the

help of its forefeet. The hindfeet are used for the purpose

of brakes and steering.


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1. What unusual defense does a maleplatypus have?

2. Which of these traits does theplatypus have in common withbirds?

3. Can a platypus makevocalizations?

4. Can a platypus withstand coldtemperatures?

5. Does a platypus haveteeth?

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