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Ann Mozley Moyal

Ann Moyal

Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World Paperback – October 29, 2004

by Ann Moyal (Author)

41 ratings

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When the first platypus specimen reached England from Australia in 1799, the scientific community claimed that it was a hoax. On closer investigation, dubious European naturalists eventually declared it to be real, though in an age obsessed with classification, the category-defying platypus sparked heated debates across Europe for a century. In Platypus, Ann Moyal provides a unique biography of one of the world's most famously strange creatures and tells the incredible story of how it became the focus of the great scientific debates of the nineteenth century. Eloquent and concise, Platypus uncovers the earliest theories and latest discoveries about this delightfully odd member of the animal kingdom.

Print length

248 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date

October 29, 2004
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.25 x 7.75 inches
ISBN-10

0801880521
ISBN-13

978-0801880520
Lexile measure

1460L
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A great account of how a small furry animal managed to challenge biology's beliefs.
―New Scientist

If any animal has mystery and charisma, it is the platypus. This book tell its story, and it's a winner . . . It has something for everyone―the excitement of a detective story, the history of biological ideas . . . Everybody will enjoy this book, and the story continues to unfold . . . Read it and enjoy.
―David Penny, Nature

Engaging . . . In recounting the story of how the platypus was studied and eventually classified, Moyal explains that it became entangled in broader debates over taxonomy and evolution among the wise men of European science.
―Christian Science Monitor

A spirited and eminently readable account of this odd Australian mammal that follows the story of its discovery, the scientific infighting over its place in taxonomy, and modern efforts to understand its biology and keep and breed it in captivity.
―Booklist

Moyal affectionately examines the scientific history of one of nature's most fascinating oddities.
―Quarterly Review of Biology

Moyal's sublime Platypus traces the wild and raucous history of the antipodean creature's introduction to the world. Part history, part mystery, Platypus details how the European scientific community was able to understand this Australian oddity . . . As remarkable and delightful as its bizarre subject.
―New York Resident

A fascinating 'biography' of the bizarre and unusual creature known to taxonomists as Ornithorhynchus.
―Science Books and Films

This book about one of the world's most unique animals is written at an academic level, but is clear enough for a serious young person to read.
―Kliatt

It is a good read.
―Wildlife Activist

About the Author

Ann Moyal is a historian of science. She has held research and teaching positions at a number of universities and is the founder and past president of the Independent Scholars Association of Australia. She lives in Canberra.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Johns Hopkins University Press; Illustrated edition (October 29, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801880521
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801880520
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1460L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.25 x 7.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,771,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,393 in Biology of Mammals
- #2,203 in Biology of Wildlife
- #7,596 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

41 global ratings

5 star		64%
4 star		23%
3 star		8%
2 star		5%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Delight for the interested layman

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 12, 2010

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I enjoyed Platypus to no end as a well-written and well-researched introduction to the history of science's approach to this fascinating little critter and its place in the natural world. It is not, and doesn't try to be, a biological look as much as a view of how biology looked at a puzzling paradox. The prose is smooth and highly readable. The book introduces the reader via vivid thumbnails of some of the major scientific minds that tried to figure out just what this animal is and where it fits in the overall scheme of things. Along the way it dishes out platypus lore, legend and enough biology to satisfy and delight an interested layman, such as myself, and, likely, you, too.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Aydin Orstan

A mediocre book about an extraordinary animal

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 30, 2006

Verified Purchase

This book is the story of a fascinating creature and those who studied it. Unfortunately, it was a letdown; the author's style is wordy and repetitive and the book is inflated with paragraphs and even chapters that could and should have been deleted. The entire story could have easily been told more concisely in the form of a magazine article. But then, the author wouldn't have had a book, would she? I am starting to think that these writers, who otherwise don't have much to say, stuff their manuscripts with minimally related material so as to have as many pages as they can. Do they get paid by the number of pages they write, or what?

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lily

Perfect gift

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

Bought this book for my friend as a going away present. She loves these animals! After receiving this book, I'm almost sad to gift it away, looks awesome.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

I ordered this as a gift for some one who like platypuses (platipi?). I thought it would be a bit bigger, like a coffee table book. Still, it seems nice enough.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 12, 2016

Verified Purchase

Well documented - a bit too short

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

My 14yo son love platypodes (the correct Greek plural ☺)
He's read this book cover to cover several times.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

maryam wade

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 20, 2014

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Nice book...a little above child's reading, but still good.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 15, 2011

Verified Purchase

My sister LOVES platypuses. So when I got her this for christmas one year, she couldn't put it down. Great Job on this. If you have a family member that loves an animal, books are definitely the way to go.

One person found this helpful

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bochum

Platypus - mainly history

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on December 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

This is mainly a historical account how the platypus was discovered and how it fooled eminent scientists mainly by being different from what was expected. It is quite interesting to learn who was involved and how science was conducted in those days so this part in itself is worth reading. On the other hand, if one (as I) expects to learn new things about the life and anatomy etc. of the platypus one may be disappointed. Only in the very last chapter are new data presented, mainly about the platypus genome. So the book is like the platypus: depending on what you expect you may like it a lot or not so much.

One person found this helpful

2nimm

ouvrage historico-scientifique sérieux et agréablement présenté

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on January 20, 2012

Verified Purchase

livre anglophone broché souple format poche récent (2001) consacré à la découverte de l'ornithorynque au XIX ème siècle; 15 chapitres d'un texte passionnant illustré par quelques gravures n&b et couleur de qualité; ce petit livre historico-scientifique sans prétentions mais bien présenté passionnera tous les amateurs de nature et d'histoire de la science; ne pas hésiter pour sa bibliothèque

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KJ

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

Quickly dispatched and as described, thanks

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Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World Paperback – October 29, 2004

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