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Distribution and characteristics of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the Murrumbidgee catchment
- Source :
- Australian Mammalogy. 38:58
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- CSIRO Publishing, 2016.
-
Abstract
- Little is known of the current status of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) populations in the Murrumbidgee catchment and other west-flowing rivers in the Murray–Darling Basin. Platypus distribution in the Murrumbidgee catchment was determined from sightings, reports by government departments, the literature and a capture–release study. The platypus was found to be widespread in the catchment, including all subcatchment and elevation categories, but most reports were from the middle and upper subcatchments. Sixty-five captures of 55 individual platypuses were made during 61 trap-nights to 31 study sites in the Murrumbidgee catchment during 2009–10. Only three juveniles (all females) were captured and recapture rates were low, with only nine platypuses captured more than once. Adult males had body weights of 980–2180 g and body lengths of 42–60 cm (n = 32). Adult females weighed 795–1480 g and were 38–52 cm long (n = 20). Tail fat index was significantly affected by season and platypus age, while in comparison, season, platypus length and weight had a significant effect on tail volume index. This study established a baseline that provides a starting point from which the impacts of environmental disturbances or diseases occurring over time can be measured and investigated.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Morphometrics
geography
education.field_of_study
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
Population
Energetics
Drainage basin
Zoology
Monotreme
biology.organism_classification
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
010601 ecology
biology.animal
Animal Science and Zoology
Mammal
education
Platypus
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Marsupial
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03100049
- Volume :
- 38
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Australian Mammalogy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........3e216baebe31655481b839b4e7a09bcb