Platypus Crazy*

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.6 • 986 Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2024

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

They look like a cross between a beaver and a duck, and they all live Down Under. The platypus may lay eggs, but is actually a distant mammalian cousin, one that we last saw, in an evolutionary sense, about 166 million years ago. Genetic sequencing is being used to trace that history, while scientists intensify their investigation of the habits and habitats of these appealing Frankencreatures; beginning by taking a census to see just how many are out there, and if their survival is under threat. Guests: Josh Griffiths – Senior Wildlife Ecologist at Cesaar Australia. Jane Fenelon – Research fellow, University of Melbourne Paula Anich – Professor of Natural Resources, Northland College Wes Warren – Professor of Genomics, University of Missouri Phoebe Meagher – Conservation Officer, Taronga Conservation Society, Australia Originally aired August 2, 2021 Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:02.0	watch on BBC I Player. If you've ever been near a river in Australia, maybe you've been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a platypus.
1:19.5	And if so, you would not soon forget the sight of an apparent cross between a furry mammal and a duck.
1:25.0	Yeah, they look like a cross between a ferret and a beaver.
1:28.0	They have very much a beaver like tail, and then they have webbed feet as well.
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