Ann Moyal (1926–2019)

For Christmas a year and a half ago, my SIL bought me the chance to swim and play with a platypus at Healesville Sanctuary, the conservation facility that has been dedicated to the care and study of platypuses since the early 1900's. It was, hands down, one of the best, if not the best, wildlife experiences I have ever had.

So imagine my disappointment when I started reading Platypus and discovered not so much a book about platypuses, but a book on the human history of discovery and research on platypuses. All of which apparently required an overabundance of killing, preserving and dissecting these wonderful, adorable, sweet animals. The first approximately 190 pages of the slim 206 page book was not much more than a recitation of what could pretty much be defined as harvesting.

Not. happy.

I went with three stars in a huge effort to be fair; it's relatively well-written (a bit dry) and for many this might have been exactly what they were expecting from the book. I recognise the dichotomy that often arises from my adoration of animals and my love of science. The last 15 pages or so was much more what I'd been expecting of the whole book and at least left me feeling somewhat upbeat, but on the whole, I did not like this book.… (más)

I picked this book up at the gift shop when exiting the American Museum of Natural History's Extreme Mammals exhibit. It is a history of science monograph of the discovery and increased understanding of the platypus, published by a University Press and without any of the flash and pretense you might find in some books of this type (e.g., something with a title like "The Platypus: The Discovery of the Animal that Changed the Western World and the Face of Science Forever.")

The story itself is more than good enough not to need any of the flash. In brief, Westerners discovered the platypus in 1798. It wasn't until nearly a century later that they fully understood and confirmed that it's young hatched from eggs. The length of time was not for lack of interest. Platypuses were a major source of fascination and effort both for the more theoretically inclined naturalists in London and Paris and their more practical counterparts in Australia. Instead, the length of time it took to make this discovery was largely about preconceived notions about taxonomy and pre-Darwinian ideas about species, especially dominated by ideas from Richard Owens (who famously referred to Darwin as the "Devil's Chaplin.") The theory of evolution helped unlock the frozen perception, allowing people to stop looking for pregnant platypuses and to take Aboroginal "legends" more seriously. Also slowing the process was how elusive and finicky the creature itself is.

While telling this story, the book elucidates several aspects in the history of science, the relationship between London science and outer areas like Australia, and ultimately the riddle of the platypus was solved by amateurs giving way to professional scientists.

It took another century to discover that the platypus has literally evolved a sixth sense -- being able to detect electrical impulses, using them to hunt in dark water. A useful reminder that it is not a more "primitive" animal but has evolved just as long as humans have.… (más)

I picked this book up at the gift shop when exiting the American Museum of Natural History's Extreme Mammals exhibit. It is a history of science monograph of the discovery and increased understanding of the platypus, published by a University Press and without any of the flash and pretense you might find in some books of this type (e.g., something with a title like "The Platypus: The Discovery of the Animal that Changed the Western World and the Face of Science Forever.")

The story itself is more than good enough not to need any of the flash. In brief, Westerners discovered the platypus in 1798. It wasn't until nearly a century later that they fully understood and confirmed that it's young hatched from eggs. The length of time was not for lack of interest. Platypuses were a major source of fascination and effort both for the more theoretically inclined naturalists in London and Paris and their more practical counterparts in Australia. Instead, the length of time it took to make this discovery was largely about preconceived notions about taxonomy and pre-Darwinian ideas about species, especially dominated by ideas from Richard Owens (who famously referred to Darwin as the "Devil's Chaplin.") The theory of evolution helped unlock the frozen perception, allowing people to stop looking for pregnant platypuses and to take Aboroginal "legends" more seriously. Also slowing the process was how elusive and finicky the creature itself is.

While telling this story, the book elucidates several aspects in the history of science, the relationship between London science and outer areas like Australia, and ultimately the riddle of the platypus was solved by amateurs giving way to professional scientists.

It took another century to discover that the platypus has literally evolved a sixth sense -- being able to detect electrical impulses, using them to hunt in dark water. A useful reminder that it is not a more "primitive" animal but has evolved just as long as humans have.… (más)