Editorial: recent research on the platypus

The original description of the platypus by George Shaw in 1799 introduced it to science as a species of immediate global interest. Its strange, almost artificial, appearance was likened to fakery by an over-zealous taxidermist. While recognised as a mammal, initially belonging to the mole family, it was the celebratory telegram from William Caldwell some 80 years later that confirmed the platypus and echidnas were oviparous mammals, and formed a significant evolutionary link between reptiles and mammals. Although a popular and high profile Australian species, the semi-aquatic, semi-fossorial and mostly nocturnal nature of the platypus has made it difficult for the public to observe in the wild, and challenging for scientists to study. As the only surviving species in the family Ornithorhynchidae, Ornithorhynchus anatinus is one of Australia’s most iconic endemics. Despite the revelations of Shaw and Caldwell, the original studies of naturalists like Harry Burrell and David Fleay, and the more recent longitudinal research of Mervyn Griffith, Tom Grant, Melody Serena and others that have greatly expanded our understanding of platypus biology, there is still much to learn about this species and its future in the Australian landscape. During ‘The Future of the Platypus’ conference Tom Grant received the inaugural Golden Spur Award for his significant and enduring contribution to the understanding of platypus biology (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

(a) Golden Spur Award for significant and enduring contribution to platypus biology, (b) Recipient Dr Tom Grant (left) receiving the award from Associate Professor Peter Temple-Smith (right). Photos provided with the generous permission of Doug Gimesy.

Platypuses have been regarded as common and of least concern for conservation, however recent suggestions from population modelling predicting the demise of the platypus have led to concerns by some about its capacity to survive into the future. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded the national conservation status of the platypus to ‘Near Threatened’ due to a predicted decline of their range. In 2021, the platypus was listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 in Victoria, Australia. It is also listed as ‘Endangered’ in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The drought and bushfires of Australia’s Black Summer in 2020 across much of the broad range of the platypus, confirm the effects of a changing climate and highlight the need for being prepared to intervene, and the importance of inter-agency co-operation in the case of future dire climate events that may further threaten the survival of this species. Many techniques and skills for studying this challenging species are often passed from supervisor to student or through collaborative projects. This collection includes papers on the fine details of basic field techniques that facilitate and improve research success and animal welfare, which are often excluded or overlooked in publications on the platypus.

‘The Future of the Platypus’ conference was hosted on Wurundjeri Land by the Australian Platypus Conservation Centre at Healesville Sanctuary from 29 to 31 August 2023. Held over 3 days in a natural bushland setting, it was the important opportunity for researchers, zoo industry staff, management authorities and community groups to collaborate and share ideas on platypus biology, captive management, threatening processes and conservation initiatives. A strong focus of this conference was about sharing and learning from each other’s experiences and ultimately about meeting others working with the species, as well as the possibility of future collaborations. The collection of papers in this special issue of Australian Mammalogy includes many of those presented at the conference and provides a review of field and laboratory techniques used in platypus research. These provide an updated view on the biology and conservation of this iconic Australian mammal.