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![Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Duck-billed Platypus) [ Original photo copyright © Dr P Temple-Smith ]](images/other_life/TVPT00031.jpg)
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Family: Ornithorhynchidae
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Genus: Ornithorhynchus
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Species: anatinus
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Common Names
Platypus , Duck-billed Platypus
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Region
Australia
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Countries
Australia
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Taxonomy and Biology
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Adult Length: 0.4 m
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Description
The platypus is flattened dorsoventrally and elongate with males reaching about 0.6 metres and females reaching about 0.5 in length with a broad, flat, tail comprising about one quarter of the total length. The jaws form a muzzle, about 6 cm long and about 5 cm wide in adults ( mandibular portion is smaller ) which resembles a duck's bill in external appearance. The legs are short with webbed feet. The venom apparatus is confined to the males and consists of a moveable horny spur ( cornu calcaris ) located on the inner side of the hind leg.
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Habitat
Freshwater permanent lakes and streams in a wide variety of climate types ranging from lowland tropical stream habitats to cold highland lakes and creeks.
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Habits
The platypus is amphibious and secretive. It emerges from its underground burrow to feed usually during early morning or late afternoon. The front feet provide the thrust used for swimming, the hind feet are usually trailing and used mainly for balance or for decreasing speed. When submerged the ear openings and eyes are closed. The muzzle remains close to the bottom surface and is used in the mud or gravel bottoms to find food by sense of touch and move objects. Food is retained in the cheek pouches until it surfaces for feeding. The platypus needs to surface quite frequently for breathing. Often seen swimming along the surface with only the upper muzzle, and portions of the upper head and upper body exposed. The platypus digs winding burrows, typically semicircular in cross-section, 1 or 2 metres above the water's surface, 5 to 15 metres or more in length and up to about 0.5 metres in depth in banks.
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Prey
Food consists largely of bottom dwelling or surface dwelling animals and larvae including aquatic insects, crustaceans, worms, frog and insect larvae and many other small marine animals.
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Venom/Poison
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No information available for Venom/Poison (No tables)
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Clinical Effects
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General: Dangerousness
Severe local effects, but not likely to be lethal.
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General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown
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General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unlikely to prove lethal
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General: Local Effects
Local pain, swelling
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General: Local Necrosis
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: General Systemic Effects
General systemic effects unlikely
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General: Myotoxicity
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Renal Damage
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Cardiotoxicity
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Other
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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First Aid
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Description: First aid for platypus Spur Stings
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Details
1. If in the water, leave the water.
2. Do not apply local bandages, tourniquet, cut or suck the wound or apply electric current. Neither application of heat or cold have proved effective.
3. Seek medical attention for pain relief and tetanus immunisation, if appropriate.
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Treatment
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Treatment Summary
Medical management of platypus stings is based on adequate pain relief, which may include regional block, analgesia sometimes being required for a prolonged period of days, less commonly several weeks.
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Key Diagnostic Features
Immediate intense local pain, swelling, no systemic effects.
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General Approach to Management
The most important aspect of management is immediate and ongoing analgesia, which will usually require at least IV narcotic analgesia, but even regional block may be appropriate in severe intractable pain. Pain may persist for days, even several weeks, requiring ongoing analgesia. While unproven by clinical trial, oral steroids (prednisolone) has been used and advocated to shorten the period of ongoing pain and swelling.
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Antivenom Therapy
No antivenom available
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![Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Duck-billed Platypus) [ Original photo copyright © Dr P Temple-Smith ]](images/other_life/TVP00031.jpg)
