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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Net-avoidance behaviour in platypuses

Josh Griffiths A C , Tom Kelly A and Andrew Weeks A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A cesar, 293 Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

B Genetics Department, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: jgriffiths@cesaraustralia.com

Australian Mammalogy 35(2) 245-247 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12051
Submitted: 11 December 2012  Accepted: 8 February 2013   Published: 17 May 2013

Abstract

It has been suggested that platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) may avoid nets following capture, compromising abundance estimates using mark–recapture models. Here, we present the first direct evidence of net avoidance behaviour by the platypus. Using acoustic telemetry, we record a platypus bypassing several nets following capture. Understanding variation in capture probabilities will lead to better estimation of platypus abundance, which is currently lacking.

Additional keywords: acoustic telemetry, conservation, mark–recapture, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, population size.


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