They can live up to 12 years in the wild. There is little information on the longevity of duck-billed platypuses. ( "Duck-billed Platypus", 2008 Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998 Pasitschniak-Arts and Marinelli, 1998) Duck-billed platypuses generally lay two to three eggs. The incubation period usually lasts for 6 to 10 days. During the incubation period, the female platypus will incubate eggs by pressing the egg to her belly with her tail. Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 1.5 (low) yearsįemale duck-billed platypuses build burrows in which to protect and nurse their young.Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 2 (low) years.Breeding season Duck-billed platypuses breed in late winter or autumn.Breeding interval Duck-billed platypuses probably breed once each year.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).( Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998 Pasitschniak-Arts and Marinelli, 1998) Most juvenile females do not begin to breed until they are four years old (Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998). There is little available information on breeding, estimated gestation periods are 27 days and incubation periods are 10 days. ( Grant and Temple-Smith, 1998 Pasitschniak-Arts and Marinelli, 1998)ĭuck-billed platypuses are one of the three mammal species that lay eggs. There is a higher proportion of spur wounds in males than females, which may be explained by aggressive encounters between males during mating season. Other details of the mating patterns of platypuses are mainly unknown due to their secretive, aquatic nature. Then he moves forward and bites the hair on her shoulder with his bill. The male then curls his body around the female, his tail underneath her to one side of her tail. However, if she is willing, she will stay near the male and will allow him to grab her tail again if he dropped it. The male grabs the tail of the female with his bill and if the female is unwilling, she will try to escape by swimming through logs and other obstacles until she is set free. Male and female platypuses touch as they swim past each other. Mating is seasonal and varies with population. Male duck-billed platypuses initiate most mating interactions but successful mating relies entirely on the willingness of females.
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