While platypuses are etched on 20 cent coins and their furry imitations abound in souvenir shops around the country, a real-life version of the venomous monotreme can be hard to find.
Not only do they often hide in plugged burrows, but they are inhabiting fewer parts of the country. They are already extinct in South Australia.
Now, research suggests that they may be prey to climate change, which will heat up their aquatic habitats.
“The platypus is a wonderfully insulated animal –- it swims around in one of the most luxurious examples of a fur coat,” Professor Jenny Davis told the BBC. “The highly insulating fur is an asset for surviving in cooler climates but becomes a liability in warmer conditions.”
That was the implication of her report published in“Global Change Biology.”
The platypus' 32 C body temperature is thought to warm up. Not even its burrow would be a refuge, as it would have to explore the ever-increasing hot tub for a feed.
They are already appearing more rarely in warm, tropical areas –- apart from those with deep gorges.
“This suggested to us that it may be very vulnerable to a warming climate,” said Professor Davis.
Although platypuses remain happily in the cool waters of Tasmania and the highlands, for now, she says it’s important to develop habitats for them.
So while they’re naturally shy creatures that used to be hunted for their fur, there may be more to the hard-to-find platypuses than meets the eye.
