1. The Platypus
Ornithorhychus anatinus
By Daniel Meikle

2. Scientific Classification
• Kingdom:Animalia
• Phylum:Chordata
• Class:Mammalia
• Order:Monatremata
• Family:Ornithorhynchidae
• Genus:Ornithorhynchus
• Species:O.anatinus
[Ornithorhynchus anatinus]

3. Appearance
• Brown fur
• Duck-like bill that can be black/brown
• Webbed feet
• Paddle-like tail that is broad and flat
• Venomous spur by ankle

4. Habitat
• In eastern Australia
• Fresh water creeks
• Lakes
• Lagoons

5. Life cycle
• First, the female platypus lays 1-3 eggs
• When the egg hatches, it is called a
puggle, the platypus is an egg
• As it matures, it becomes an adult
platypus
• The female platypus lays eggs once a year

6. Diet
• Aquatic insect larvae
• Shrimp
• Yabbies
• Crayfish
• Annelid worms

7. Predators of the Platypus
• Water rats
• Eagles
• Goannas
• Hawks
• Pythons
• Foxes
• Domestic cats
• Domestic dogs

8. How does this species contribute to
the diversity of life
• The Platypus helps control the population
of…
• Annelid worms
• Yabbies
• Crayfish
• Shrimp
• Aquatic insect larvae

9. How do humans interfere with the
Platypus
• We pollute the waterways of the platypus
• We destroy it’s habitat
• We used to hunt platypi for their fur

10. How can we keep this species alive
• We can stop killing it’s food
• We can stop their habitat
• In Australia, the platypus is protected by
law

11. Interesting facts
• The platypus swims with it’s eyes, nose,
and ears shut
• The female platypus secretes milk through
glands and has 2 ovaries.
• The platypus use it’s tail to store fat.

12. References
• www.Wikipedia.org
• www.Answers.com
• www.NationalGeographic.com