'In this remote part of the earth, Nature (having made horses, oxen, ducks, geese, oaks, elms, and all regular productions for the rest of the world) seems determined to have a bit of a play, and to amuse herself as she pleases.' - Rev Sydney Smith, Sydney, 1819. When the first specimen of a platypus arrived in England in 1799 it was greeted with astonishment and disbelief. What was this strange creature from the new colony of Australia? It defied rational explanation, with its webbed feet and duck's beak attached to what seemed to be a mammal's body - surely it was a hoax on the part of those cheeky new colonials? As eighteenth century naturalists struggled to classify the platypus, the little animal excited curiosity and sparked fierce debate in international scientific circles, drawing in leaders of zoology and comparative anatomy in Britain and Europe. This is the enigmatic story of a biological riddle that confounded scientists for nearly ninety years, challenging theories of creationism, evolution and the classification of species along the way. Secretive, elusive and beguiling, the platypus has continued to captivate public and scientific attention to the present day.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Allen & Unwin
ISBN-13
9781741757798
eBay Product ID (ePID)
95858187
Product Key Features
Author
Ann Moyal
Publication Name
Platypus
Format
Paperback
Language
English
Subject
Science
Publication Year
2010
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
264 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
198mm
Item Width
128mm
Item Weight
322g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Ann Moyal
Topic
Wildlife
Country/Region of Manufacture
Australia
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