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Paperback. This book is a comprehensive, research-driven exploration of the platypus-one of the most extraordinary mammals on Earth and a living link to the earliest stages of mammalian evolution. Across sixteen meticulously crafted chapters, it blends cutting-edge science with cultural and historical perspectives to present the platypus as far more than a biological curiosity.Readers are guided through the species' discovery and the initial disbelief of European naturalists, then introduced to the fossil record that reveals its 100-million-year evolutionary journey. The text examines the platypus's remarkable anatomy-from its duck-like bill and electroreceptive sensors to its venomous spurs and highly specialized fur-explaining how each trait supports a semi-aquatic lifestyle.The book then moves from anatomy to molecular science, detailing the sequencing of the platypus genome and the surprising coexistence of reptilian, avian, and mammalian genes. These genetic revelations illuminate the evolutionary bridge between reptiles and modern mammals, while also highlighting biomedical possibilities such as antimicrobial compounds in its milk and pain-modulating peptides in its venom.Equally compelling is the discussion of Indigenous Australian knowledge and cultural significance, contrasting thousands of years of Aboriginal stories and ecological stewardship with the more recent European folklore and the role of the platypus in modern Australian identity. The narrative examines the species' conservation status and environmental challenges, including threats from habitat loss, climate change, and waterway pollution, and showcases how citizen science programs and traditional ecological knowledge guide effective protection strategies.Later chapters explore the latest scientific breakthroughs, from reproductive endocrinology to bioinspired materials, and survey the platypus's presence in popular culture, literature, and education, demonstrating its enduring power to inspire fascination across generations. A final synthesis highlights the platypus as a global ambassador for freshwater conservation, showing how protecting this ancient lineage safeguards wider biodiversity and strengthens our understanding of life's evolutionary history.Both professional and accessible, this book serves scientists, educators, and general readers alike. It is at once a definitive natural history, a call to stewardship, and a celebration of one of nature's most inventive creations. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.
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