The platypus isn’t just strange, it’s one of the most scientifically baffling animals on Earth. With the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, the feet of an otter, and the ability to lay eggs ...

When British scientists first laid eyes on the platypus in the late 18th century, some of them thought the specimen — sent back from its native Australia — must be a hoax.

The platypus, a species unique to Australia, was reintroduced into the country’s oldest national park just south of Sydney on Friday in a landmark conservation project after disappearing from ...

Throughout its lifetime, the platypus’s spurs had worn down to half their length, to 9.5 millimeters from 19, Mr. Williams said. The observation opened the possibility that scientists could use ...

Platypus numbers may have more than halved over several decades, research models show, but figures are hard to pinpoint. Environment groups estimate the total population between 30,000 and 300,000.