Comment from michiganmike
A curious animal but a very nice shot. I like the diagonal placement and the natural colors. Even though the platypus is well focused I don't come away with a clear image in my mind of what one looks like.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks Mike :)

Comment from Sean T Phelan
Cool,Mary!
That's the famous 'living fossil',the 'transition animal' that Paleontologists ( even 'Hobbyist' Paleontologists like 'your's truly' here! ) have been 'in love with' for years and years!
It's also the only Poisonous mammal ( they've got a 'stinger' on their hind legs! ) still in existence!
Your photo of this specimen swimming along is Marvelous! : D
~Sean

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks Sean this is only the 2nd time we have seen them in their natural environment as they are very difficult to find.

reply by Sean T Phelan on 08-Mar-2020

They're uncommon beasts!
Perhaps I'll try drawing one soon!

Comment from alaskapat
What an interesting subject.. I think this is the very first platypus I have seen on FAR. They are such interesting creatures with their duck bills and webbed feet,
Nice timing to capture this one as it swims, I can see it's left rear foot under the water and it's right rear foot just breaking the surface , nice little splash there too. That bill is intriguing . Your notes are informative and very much appreciated.
Well focused, this image is clear, I can see how the platypus blends in to its surroundings.
Well composed and presented!

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks Pat they are pretty hard to find - the bill apparently is quite rubbery.

Comment from Susan F. M. T.
Mary,
A beautiful,& interesting picture of one of Australia's unique animals swimming away from you so we can see both the "duck bill" & it's paddle like tail .. Beautiful composition framing and lightning taken with superb camera techniques and sharp focus.
Just one thing are they really3 to 8 metres/ 12 to 26 feet long????..
Susan
Susan

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Hahaha that is the length of the burrow not the platypus they are up to 60cm long from bill to tail end. Thanks for your feedback. :)

Comment from liseworks
Interesting animal to look at, they sound so mysterious as well by your description like they are not easy to see. Not sure what God was thinking when He created this creature,

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks so much - think he must have had some parts left over and threw them together ending up with this egg laying mammal :)

Comment from nikman
An interesting nature photo posted here! Unfortunately, to me, the shot is blurred, consequently I cannot see it very well at all. Exposure and composition are fine.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks again :)

Comment from supergold
I thought it was your rolling pin for pastries that you've thrown and was floating in the water; lol;
what a strange looking animal you have in your area!

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2020

---

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2020

Thanks Fred - we are very lucky to have some very unique animals here in Australia :)