The platypus' distribution coincides with many of Australia's major threatening processes, including highly regulated and disrupted rivers, intensive habitat destruction, and fragmentation, and they were extensively hunted for their fur until the early 20th century. Accumulating knowledge and technological advancements have provided insights into many aspects of its evolutionary history and biology but have also raised concern about significant knowledge gaps surrounding distribution, population sizes, and trends. Modern platypuses are endemic to eastern mainland Australia, Tasmania, and adjacent King Island, with a small introduced population on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and are widely distributed in permanent river systems from tropical to alpine environments. *Correspondent: platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one of the world's most evolutionarily distinct mammals, one of five extant species of egg-laying mammals, and the only living species within the family Ornithorhynchidae. Box 22, Wiseleigh, Victoria, Australia (MS, GW)ġ3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victġ4Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria, Australia (JT) Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia (DL)ġ0School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia (SM)ġ1Forest Practices Authority, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (SM)ġ2Australian Platypus Conservancy, P.O. Griffiths)ħBiological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (MK)ĨSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraĩOffice of Environment and Heritage, P.O. Connolly, 2,3 Jenna Day, 4 Kimberly Dias, 4 David Goldney, 5 Jaime Gongora, 4 Tom Grant, 1 Josh Griffiths, 6 Tahneal Hawke, 1 Melissa Klamt, 7 Daniel Lunney, 8,9 Luis Mijangos, 1 Sarah Munks, 10,11 William Sherwin, 1 Melody Serena, 12 Peter Temple-Smith, 13 Jessica Thomas, 14 Geoff Williams, 12 Camilla Whittington 4,8ġCentre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University ofĢSchool of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NewģGraham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia (JHC)ĤSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New SouthĥCharles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia (DG)ĦCesar Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (J.