Dave - a question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 12:34:55 am
content: Have you ever seen a live platypus?

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 12:58:12 am
content: A bit off topic, but a valid question. Dave have you seen a live platypus. ?

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:04:07 am
content: Considering Dave's canyoning hobby, I'd say 'probably'

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:11:20 am
content: I've never been outside North America and I've seen a live platypus.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:13:31 am
content: I've never been outside North America and so have I.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:16:52 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on August 13, 2013, 01:11:20 amThat's cool, if Dave said "no" then that would be embarrassing wouldn't it, considering you have seen one and you are not in their native environment.

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:17:32 am
content: :/ I've been to hawaii, the bahamas, canada, greece, italy, albania, and all around the US and many zoos yet i haven't ever seen a live platypus.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:24:16 am
content: Well he's got one on his front door.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:24:45 am
content: Quote from: IonizedGears on August 13, 2013, 01:17:32 amHmmm ... did you seek one out while in those countries?

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:25:56 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on August 13, 2013, 01:24:16 amThis is getting personal -How did you get a pic of his front door?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:31:11 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 13, 2013, 01:25:56 amThe same way I have pictures of him building the door.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 01:33:44 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on August 13, 2013, 01:31:11 amI'm very curious nowhave you any other pics to share here for the community?

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:08:02 am
content: And these were the dark days of the EEVBlog lab:

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:21:16 am
content: Perhaps I asked the wrong question.Has Dave ever seen a dead platypus?

author: JonnyBoats
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:30:08 am
content: How about a platypus for teardown Tuesday?Seriously though, perhaps a visit with the biologists who use radios to track them in the wild describing the electronics and how it is used?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:32:40 am
content: platypus. Made when god was stonedI'll take a beaver, put on a ducks bill. It's a mammal but it lays eggs.Hey darwin , figure this one out.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:39:48 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 13, 2013, 02:32:40 amWell, yeah. Australia was created during God's "experimental" phase, after he created all the drugs.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:40:37 am
content: They're kinda cute but I think they can kick the shit out of you if they want to.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 03:41:56 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 13, 2013, 12:34:55 amYes. Both in zoos and in the wild, but zoos don't count I guess.But only in the wild up in QLD.They are not easy to find in the wild, they are very elusive creatures, you often have to sit and wait for hours.There are reports of some in our canyons I've been in but once again, sitting around for many hours in freezing cold water hoping you'll spot one isn't my idea of fun.They can sense you a mile away and are long gone into their borrow before you get there.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 03:44:20 am
content: Trivia:The baby platypus and baby echidna look identical during the developmental stage.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 04:08:41 am
content: As they're largely nocturnal, seeing one is a rare experience and is most likely around dusk.I've seen, well glimpsed, two in the wild.. As Dave said, once they know you're around, they disappear back to their burrows.

author: DeanA
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 08:42:22 am
content: I have seen a platypus in the wild on a couple of trips.Last time was in April this year, we were LiLowing down the Manning river near the Barrington tops north of Sydney. We basically just caught a glimpse of it as it splashed it's tail and disappeared into the side of the bank.The other time was many years ago when we were canoeing at Kangaroo Valley south of Sydney.So you can see them in the wild but I think you need to be lucky and in the right place at the right time.Dean.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 09:21:09 am
content: Quote from: DeanA on August 13, 2013, 08:42:22 amand to not confuse them with water rats. They both look and swim very similar from a distance.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 10:47:51 am
content: And like most things from oz they have venom (well the males do), my uncle got 'barbed' when he was a young lad whilst playing in a creek, (he's almost 90 now, so it was a while ago)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus_venom

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 02:16:27 pm
content: It's strange the things we remember. I first remember learning about the platypus fromThe Plain Truthmagazine, published by The Worldwide Church of God. A quick search on Wikipedia lead me to the article I remembered from long ago, in the August 1967 issue. I am amazed that I was able to view a copy of this magazine with a minute of effort and I'm amazed that the article and pictures were just as I remembered. The purpose of the article was to debunk evolution, but even as a ten year old, I wasn't buying any of that!The Plain Truth, August, 1967

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 06:52:49 pm
content: Never seen one, but have met most of the big 5 here. Had some and a little of the smaller ones as a meal as well. Very nearly had a very bad night with a hippo once.Even remember going to the JHB science museum and touching a piece of lunar rock they have on display.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2013, 02:40:54 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 13, 2013, 03:44:20 amThey taste almost the same on the barbie too.

author: staxquad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2013, 03:54:01 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on August 13, 2013, 12:34:55 amI have, in Queensland, in the wild, in a pond.I also saw an Echidna, again in Queensland, walking across a road, rolled up in a ball when I went to look at it.