Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Is the Platypus an Endangered Species?

The platypus is a monotreme, or egg-laying mammal, endemic to eastern Australia. Thanks to conservation measures, the platypus is not currently considered to be endangered.

  1. Conservation

    • The platypus still occupies most of its historic range, except for the state of South Australia. While the platypus is not considered endangered, it is protected by local and state laws.

    Classification

    • The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the platypus in the "least concern" category, meaning that it does not appear to be under any immediate threat of extinction.

    Threats

    • Currently, the main threat to the platypus is the modification of its stream habitats. Damming, drought and over-extraction of water have compromised the stability to the platypus' native ecosystem.

    Uncertainty

    • While the platypus currently appears to be doing relatively well, IUCN notes that not much is truly known about how many of them are around, so currently it is impossible to predict the long-term stability of the platypus' population.

    Non-Profit Protection

    • Organizations, including the Australian Platypus Conservancy, provide research and conservation measures to protect the platypus. Additionally, some zoos have begun captive-breeding programs for the platypus.

Related Searches:

References

Comments

You May Also Like

  • About the Platypus

    Once thought by early scientists to be the work of a clever hoax, the platypus is one of the few animals known...

  • Endangered Species Act in the UK

    The Endangered Species Act in the UK, passed in 1976, defines an endangered species and requires a permit for the import or...

  • Endangered Animal Gifts

    Gifts concerning endangered species often do more than make the receiver happy. Such gifts usually benefit an endangered species nonprofit organization, which...

  • How Many Endangered Animal Species Are Going Extinct in Australia?

    Australia had 62 animals, mostly small marsupials, on its endangered species list in 2009, according to the environmental organization Earth's Endangered Creatures...

  • Relatives of the Platypus

    The platypus belongs to the order Montremata and does not have any close living relatives. There is only one living species of...

  • The Endangered Species Act of Australia

    The Australian Government enacted the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) to protect threatened native plant and animal...

  • Habitat of the Duck Billed Platypus

    The duck billed platypus (also known as ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an unusual, semi-aquatic mammal, known for its unique appearance. It has a...

  • The Effects of Platypus Venom

    The platypus is a very unusual mammal. It is one of the few mammals that lays eggs rather than giving birth to...

  • Platypus Facts for Kids

    The Australian platypus is an odd mammal with an otter-like body, duck-like bill, webbed feet and beaver-like tail. Platypuses live on land...

  • How to Tell If a Platypus Is Male or Female

    Eastern Australia is home to one of world's most unique mammals--an aquatic, duck-billed monotreme called the platypus. Like its relatives, the echidnas,...

  • How Does a Giraffe Protect Its Babies?

    Giraffes are beautiful creatures found on the plains of Africa. While they are usually peaceful animals, they will defend themselves from predators,...

  • Adoption of Endangered Animals

    Adopting an endangered animal means that someone symbolically adopts a member of the species by contributing funds to support groups that work...

  • Animals in the Tasmanian Forest

    Tasmania is an Australian island state that is largely covered in lush temperate rainforests. Much of the Tasmanian rainforest ecosystem is protected...

  • About the Duckbill Platypus

    The duckbill platypus is a native mammal of eastern sections of Australia as well as the island of Tasmania. The platypus is...

  • Platypus Fungus Disease

    Platypus fungus disease is a danger to the Tasmanian population of this threatened animal. The disease, mucormycosis, introduced by imported frogs, causes...

  • Characteristics Common to Endangered Species

    Endangered species are animals or plants that are so few in number that it is possible they may become extinct in the...

  • The Platypus Diet

    The platypus, also known as the duckbill platypus, is a mammal native to Australia that has a body much like an otter's,...

  • Platypus Crafts for Kids

    Platypus Crafts for Kids. The platypus is one of nature's most unique creatures. Looking like a combination of a duck, beaver and...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured