Given increases were more likely for males, this may reflect increased efforts to establish territories and locate females prior to breeding 9. Platypuses have also been shown to increase diurnal activity over the winter months 6 , 9. In Tasmania, increased diurnal activity occurred primarily in females 16 , but males were more active in the day than females during July on the Snowy River, complementing increased movements in the lead up to the breeding season 4. While there were some similarities in movement and activity patterns on both rivers, there were also some notable differences.
These differences may reflect possible scarcity of habitat and resources downstream of Dartmouth Dam on the Mitta Mitta River. There was some evidence that flows were associated with both range and cumulative movements, suggesting that platypuses may reduce foraging distances under higher flows due to increased energetic demands 8.
Identifying how flows interact with prey abundance and platypus movements, remains a critical gap in understanding habitat requirements and estimating population sizes. This study was limited by the small sample sizes number of tracked platypuses and limited replication number of rivers , limiting the scope of inference about long-term movements of platypus, particularly in relation to sex and life stage. Although significant effort was made, the number of tracked platypuses was particularly small on the Mitta Mitta River, with only four males captured.
The small numbers of tagged platypuses also limited comparisons between the two river systems, but this probably reflected the poor state of the platypus population on the Mitta Mitta River Movement tracking of platypuses on both rivers occurred for periods of 6—12 months, some of the longest movement tracking data for this species. However, this was still not long enough to adequately represent annual variation of movement behaviours in relation to breeding and resource availability.
Some variation probably also occurred among rivers due to the fixed placement of acoustic receivers, potentially resulting in underestimation of ranges and cumulative movements of platypuses foraging in areas with no receivers. These limitations are inevitable when studying a cryptic freshwater species found in low densities.
Platypus movements are increasingly understood, particularly the existence of restricted ranges, after potential dispersal phases for male juveniles.
This has implications for declining populations 58 , 59 , given that populations in areas of local declines and extinctions are unlikely to be supplemented by migrating platypuses.
This is particularly problematic if dispersing juveniles are restricted by dam walls, potentially impacting metapopulation connectivity and the future viability of populations While there was no strong evidence of impacts of changing regulated flows to movements, platypus movements may be indirectly influenced by the impacts of river regulation on abundance of their macroinvertebrate prey. Future research would benefit from tracking platypuses to assess habitat use and quality, and the relationship this has with their macroinvertebrate food sources.
Understanding platypus movements, particularly on regulated systems, is increasingly important for their conservation, given ongoing declines and drying of water bodies across their distribution.
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PubMed Article Google Scholar. Equipped with sharp stingers on the heels of its hind feet, the male platypus can deliver a strong toxic blow to any approaching foe. While the platypus generally inhabits freshwater rivers, wetlands, and billabongs Down Under, it is also known to venture into brackish estuaries the combined fresh-and saltwater areas where rivers meet the sea. The platypus is a bottom-feeder that uses its beaver-like tail to steer and its webbed feet to propel itself through the water while hunting for insects, shellfish, and worms.
The watertight nostrils on its bill remain sealed so that the animal can stay submerged for up to two minutes as it forages for food. The bill also comes equipped with specialized nerve endings, called electroreceptors, which detect tiny electrical currents generated by the muscular contractions of prey. It has no teeth, so the platypus stores its "catch" in its cheek pouches, returns to the surface, mashes up its meal with the help of gravel bits hoovered up enroute, then swallows it all down.
Common Name: Platypus. Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus. Type: Mammals. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Head and body: 15 inches; tail: 5 inches. Weight: 3 pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Near threatened. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Decreasing.
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