This week, we’re heading to the freshwater areas of Australia to talk about one of the strangest animals on the planet. Joining Alex is expert Dr. Geoff Williams, Director of the Australian Platypus Conservancy, who has dedicated his life to studying and saving the animal we’re discussing today. So, get ready to head under water to explore one of the only mammals that can lay eggs: platypuses.
“What’s really important about the bill is it’s where the platypus has a genuine sixth sense…it scans for tiny flickers of electricity that are generated by the bugs that it’s hunting.” – Geoff Williams
About Our Guest: Geoff Williams
Geoff Williams is the Director of the Australian Platypus Conservancy. He has been studying the platypus and the Australian water-rat/rakali since 1994. Before helping to establish the Australian Platypus Conservancy, Geoff was Director of Healesville Sanctuary (Australia’s leading zoo for native species) and Assistant Director of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
Organizations
Sources
- Platypus | National Geographic
- Platypus | Environment | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (des.qld.gov.au)
- Some FAQs – Australian Platypus Conservancy
- platypus – Life cycle and reproduction | Britannica
- platypus: evolutionary history, biology, and an uncertain future | Journal of Mammalogy | Oxford Academic (oup.com)
- Amazing Animals: Wolf Quiz | HowStuffWorks
- Platypus – New World Encyclopedia
- CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Zoology
- Platypus venom: painful, immediate, long-lasting, impervious to painkillers. (slate.com)
- Platypus – The Australian Museum
- Animal Sex: How Platypuses Do It | Live Science
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