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As native animals of Australia, the platypus is, quite simply, protected by law. The platypus faced near-extinction by the early twentieth century because their pelts were in great demand in the USA. They can now no longer be legally hunted, and the protection afforded by the law has enabled the species to repopulate.
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When do platypuses hunt?
Platypuses hunt at dusk, during the night and in the early morning.
Do platypuses breed in water or land?
Platypuses breed on land. They only hunt for food in the water.
When does a platypus hunt?
Platypuses are nocturnal, and hunt for their food between dusk and dawn.
Can platypuses come on to land?
Yes - platypuses live on land. They only hunt in water. Platypuses dig burrows in the riverbank or creek bank near which they do their hunting.
Why did they hunt the platypus?
Platypuses were originally hunted for their velvety pelts.
Can Platypuses be found in the swamp?
No. Platypuses need water which is relatively free of snags and water reeds, in order to swim and hunt effectively.
Do platypuses swim together?
Platypuses are solitary animals which live and hunt alone. However, small groups of two or three platypuses can often be seen together while hunting for food.
Is a platypus semi-aquatic?
Platypuses are indeed semi-aquatic. Platypuses live and shelter in burrows dug into dry land, but they need to hunt for their food in freshwater creeks and rivers. Platypuses cannot breathe underwater.
Do platypuses live in freshwater saltwater or both?
Platypuses are only able to live alongside freshwatersources such as freshwater creeks and rivers. They cannot hunt in salty water.
What do platypuses do at night?
Platypuses are nocturnal, so much of their hunting for food is done at night and in the evening. To the quiet and patient observer, platypuses may be observed swimming and diving at night as they hunt for food on the bottom of creeks and rivers.
Do platypuses have eyes?
Yes, platypuses do have eyes, and they use them whenever they are on land. Platypuses close their eyes when they dive and hunt underwater for food. They do not need to see underwater, as they use the electroreceptors in their bills to detect living organisms underwater.
Do platypuses eat squirrels?
No. To begin with, platypuses and squirrels live on completely different continents. Platypuses live only in Australia, and there are no squirrels in Australia. Secondly, platypuses do not eat larger live animals. They hunt for small crustaceans and insect larvae which live on the bottom of creeks and rivers.
