Stumbled across this fantastic picture yesterday and had to share it.
The photograph, taken by Cain Doherty is a once in a lifetime shot.
Cain describes how he came across this hardy platypus that is swimming in a stream with pieces of snow:
Rebecca and I considered ourselves incredibly lucky to share a few minutes with this timid Australian mammal. We were high up on the Cradle Plateau, near Kitchen Hut, trudging a 6 hour hike that runs up and across the face of Cradle Mountain, when we saw some movement in a shallow pool. This was the first time either of us had seen a Platypus so close and it was owed to the fact that it was trying to hide from us under some snow.
The Platypus is classified as a monotreme and has the bizarre characteristics of egg-laying abilities, venomous spurs, a duck-billed snout, a beaver-like tail and otter-like feet. I think you can understand it is truly unique!
Cain has an excellent photographic galley and we highly recommend you drop by and have a look at his work. His photographs can also be purchased for very reasonable rates.
The picture below, is of Sue and Clare walking towards Cradle Mountain and Kitchen Hut. This is the sort of environment the Platypus would have been inhabiting when Cain took his photograph - cold and snow covered.
Related Post
Lake Elizabeth - Platypus in the Otways
Platypus on Cradle Plateau? - I'd like to see that
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5 comments:
Woaa! "Venomous spurs"??? I must have missed that when putting the duck-billed into the "cute and cuddly" category.
Great photo, thanks for letting us know about it. They are in the Thredbo River which is probably even colder.
I have seen one closeup but the camera was in the pack, since then I've always kept it out unless the weather is wet.
That's great. Those are strange looking animals.
Thanks for this post Frank. Your accompanying shot really puts the extremity of the environmental conditions into perspective.
Cain
We also saw a platypus in a small tarn on the saddle just East of Little Horn a couple of years back, we were en route to Scott Kilvert Hut and were equally surprised and delighted.
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