Platypus

Ann Moyal

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English

Allen & Unwin
01 June 2010

Mathematics & Sciences; Popular science; Marsupials & monotremes; The natural world, country life & pets; Wildlife: mammals

'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.

By: Ann Moyal
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Edition: 2nd edition
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 310g
ISBN: 9781741757798
ISBN 10: 1741757797
Pages: 264
Publication Date: 01 June 2010
Recommended Age: From
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Ann Moyal is a well-known historian of Australian science and has held research and teaching positions at a number of Australian universities. She has written many books and articles and is founder and past-president of the Independent Scholars Association of Australia. She now lives in Canberra.

Reviews for Platypus

This readable and cogently presented text is accompanied by suitable photographs and floor plan of the buildings that permit the reader to comprehend both the buildings' authentic structures and aesthetic sensibilities. Berger's style is thoroughly engaging, a sardonic sense of humor resonating across his finely crafted scholarly prose. Like the architecture he describes, his analyses are elegantly crafted and provide the reader a superb impression of the relationship between Louis's architectural achievements and the king's own character. Simon P. Sibelman, The European Studies Journal