OBSERVATIONS ON PLATYPUSES IN TASMANIAN CAVES

摘要

A variety of evidence suggests that platypuses frequent certain karst caves, are capable oftravelling underground for considerable distances and on occasion will nest inside caves.This paper (1) collates published and unpublished records of platypuses in Tasmaniancaves, (2) reports on aspects of platypus behaviour in caves, and (3) describescharacteristic signs of platypus presence in caves, with reference to a selection ofphotographs. The sources include reports in the literature, discussions with cavers, showcave staff and my own observations. The latter are essentially incidental observationsmade over several decades during recreational and work-related caving trips. The numberof such records is not large, although it is possible and indeed likely that in some cases Ifailed to recognised evidence of platypuses, which I became more aware of in 2004following the discovery of platypus nests in Riveaux Cave.