

( Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998 Pasitschniak-Arts and Marinelli, 1998)ĭuck-billed platypuses are one of the three mammal species that lay eggs. There is a higher proportion of spur wounds in males than females, which may be explained by aggressive encounters between males during mating season. Other details of the mating patterns of platypuses are mainly unknown due to their secretive, aquatic nature.

Then he moves forward and bites the hair on her shoulder with his bill. The male then curls his body around the female, his tail underneath her to one side of her tail. However, if she is willing, she will stay near the male and will allow him to grab her tail again if he dropped it. The male grabs the tail of the female with his bill and if the female is unwilling, she will try to escape by swimming through logs and other obstacles until she is set free. Male and female platypuses touch as they swim past each other. Mating is seasonal and varies with population. Male duck-billed platypuses initiate most mating interactions but successful mating relies entirely on the willingness of females.

There have been records of them living in aquatic habitats at elevations above 1000 meters (Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998).

The rivers and streams are usually less than 5 meters in depth (Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998). They prefer areas with steep banks that contain roots, overhanging vegetation, reeds, and logs (Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998). ( Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998 Pasitschniak-Arts and Marinelli, 1998)ĭuck-billed platypuses inhabit rivers, lagoons, and streams (Pasitschniak-Artsand Marinelli, 1998). The geographic range of Ornithorhynchus anatinus is restricted to the wetter regions of eastern Australia and Tasmania.
