" A Duck?.. A Beaver?.. Nope...A PLATYPUS! with Dr. Tahneal Hawke

About this episode

This episode features a discussion with Dr. Tahneal Hawke about the unique biology and conservation of the platypus.

What do you get when you combine a duck’s bill, a beaver-like tail, webbed feet, venomous spurs, egg-laying, and the ability to detect electricity? You get one of the most unusual animals on Earth—the platypus. In this episode, Mark talks with Australian platypus researcher Dr. Tahneal Hawke about the remarkable biology, behavior, and conservation of this one-of-a-kind mammal. They explore how platypuses hunt underwater with their eyes, ears, and nostrils closed, why males carry venomous spurs, and how an egg-laying mammal became one of evolution’s greatest surprises. Dr. Hawke also shares what it is like studying these elusive animals in the wild, the threats they face from habitat loss, drought, and changing waterways, and what researchers are learning about how to protect them. Funny, fascinating, and packed with “wait...what?” moments, this episode proves that when it comes to the platypus, nature clearly decided the usual rules did not apply. www.unsw.edu.au/research/platypus-conservation-intiative www.furrealpodcast.com ig@platypus_ci ig@tahneal ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle fb@ PLatypus Conservation Iniative fb@Mark A Kyle tik tok @thefurrealpodcast See Privacy Policy…

People in this episode

Host: Mark A Kyle

Guest: Dr. Tahneal Hawke

Topics covered

• platypus
• animal behavior
• conservation
• Australian wildlife
• evolution
• biology

Keywords

• platypus
• Dr. Tahneal Hawke
• conservation
• biology
• Australian wildlife
• venomous spurs
• egg-laying mammals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UNSW, Platypus Conservation Initiative

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