#platypus — Public Fediverse posts

Factors contributing directly to platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) mortality and implications for conserving populations in the wild

" Based on details of more than 400 platypus deaths with an identifiable cause recorded since 1989,
five main factors contributed directly to platypus mortalities:

drowning in fish nets or enclosed crustacean traps (such as opera house traps),
being killed by predators (especially canids),
becoming accidentally hooked by recreational anglers who then cut the line,
becoming entangled in discarded fishing line or other types of litter and
being hit by motor vehicles

... Additional mortality factors included drought, severe flooding, being drawn into irrigation pumps and entrapment in manmade materials or infrastructure.

Disease was implicated as being the likely causal agent in two platypus deaths, including a female that died late in lactation.

Platypus mortalities were recorded throughout the year on the southeastern Australian mainland but peaked in early autumn, when many recently weaned juveniles are likely to be present. Given the very high number of platypus mortalities attributed to the use of fish nets or enclosed crustacean traps, their use should be banned in all waters where platypus population are known to occur. "
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Melody Serena et al., Factors contributing directly to platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) mortality and implications for conserving populations in the wild
January 2025 Australian Mammalogy 47(1)
https://doi.org/10.1071/AM24032
#platypus #rivers #monotreme #wildlife #habitat #conservation #destruction #degradation #NSW #rivers #fishing #entanglement #traps #infrastructure #canids #cars #roads #RoadTrauma #mortality #extinction makers

NSW platypuses are accumulating the “forever chemical” perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in very high concentrations.

"The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic monotreme that occupies a high trophic position in the freshwater ecosystems of eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Platypuses are continuously exposed to anthropogenic contaminants including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). This study examined PFOS concentrations in the livers of deceased platypuses (eight wild; one captive) that were opportunistically collected across NSW over a two- and a half-year period. There was a large variation in PFOS concentrations, ranging from < 1 µg/kg to 1200 µg/kg. This study presents the first report of PFOS contamination in platypuses, revealing their PFOS levels are broadly similar to those found in river otters (Lutra canadensis) and lower than those in American mink (Mustela vison), both which occupy similar ecological niches in freshwater systems. This study raises concerns about the impact of PFOS on platypus health."

"Platypuses are vulnerable to many impacts associated with human activity including hydrological changes, decline in water quality, increase in litter and discarded fishing line, illegal opera house nets (yabby traps) and water contamination...There are no guidelines on what constitutes safe concentrations of PFOS in wildlife."

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Warwick, K.G., Wright, I.A., Whinfield, J. et al. First report of accumulation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in New South Wales, Australia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 51037–51042 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34704-w
#pollution #water #rivers #contamination #NSW #Wildlife #platypus #platypuses #penguins #PFOS #PFAS #ForeverChemicals #Gleniffer #bellingen #NeverNever #bellinger #catchment #AquaticInvertebrates #DrinkingWater #FoodChain #SyntheticChemicals

Recreational fishing is a popular pastime in Australia’s inland rivers and streams. Unfortunately, in the process, many people are unwittingly killing platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).

Platypuses can become trapped in commonly-used yabby nets or tangled in fishing wire, causing them to drown.

Learn more about what we can do to continue enjoying fishing while protecting our platypuses… https://ausgeo.co/fishingplatypus

#ausgeo #australia #seeaustralia #wildlife #platypus #platypuses #nature #seal
#environment #pollution #government #nature #wildlife

Good morning! Today I learned that the #platypus does not have a stomach.

From #NationalGeographic, "How the Platypus and a Quarter of Fish Lost Their Stomachs:" https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-the-platypus-and-a-quarter-of-fishes-lost-their-stomachs#:~:text=And%20if%20you%20look%20inside,the%20platypus%20has%20no%20stomach.

#FunFact #Biology #Anatomy #Platypuses #TIL

Re-posting after correcting a faulty link. Thanks to those who let me know. <3

"Museums stocked with 'platysausages' as taxidermists get it wrong on Australian animals."
🔗 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-05/poor-taxidermy-making-fattypuses-out-of-australian-animals/101827332
"We often find flatypuses that are pancake flat. We find fattypuses that are overstuffed, or sometimes the platysausage, which is long and thin and sausage-shaped."

Great article By Zoe Kean , ABC Radio Hobart, with food for thought for museums.

We talked about the confusion experienced by Europeans seeing our Platypus for the first time in Episode 19: The Platypus Controversy.
Very amusing. 😄. Link to listen below if you’re interested.

🔗 🎧 https://www.australianhistoriespodcast.com.au/2019/01/25/19-platypus-controversy/ 🎧

#History #AustralianHistory #AustralianStories #Histodons #AustralianPodcast #HistoryPodcast #Taxidermy #BadTaxidermy #Museums #Platypus #Echidna #TasmanianTiger #Zoology #AustralianFauna #OzAnimals

"Museums stocked with 'platysausages' as taxidermists get it wrong on Australian animals."
🔗 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-05/poor-taxidermy-making-fattypuses-out-of-australian-animals/101827332
"We often find flatypuses that are pancake flat. We find fattypuses that are overstuffed, or sometimes the platysausage, which is long and thin and sausage-shaped."

Great article By Zoe Kean , ABC Radio Hobart, with food for thought for museums.

We talked about the confusion experienced by Europeans seeing our Platypus for the first time in Episode 19: The Platypus Controversy.
Very amusing. 😄. Link to listen below if you’re interested.

🔗 🎧https://www.australianhistoriespodcast.com.au/2019/01/25/19-platypus-controversy/🎧

#History #AustralianHistory #AustralianStories #Histodons #AustralianPodcast #HistoryPodcast #Taxidermy #BadTaxidermy #Museums #Platypus #Echidna #TasmanianTiger #Zoology #AustralianFauna #OzAnimals