The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, has faced significant localized range declines and population reductions due to habitat destruction and extreme weather events.
State the biological term for a sharp, substantial reduction in the size of a population that severely limits its genetic diversity.
Adaptations of organisms to their environment can be categorised into three main types:
The table below lists four distinct evolutionary adaptations of the platypus.
Complete the table by identifying which of the three types of adaptation is represented by each trait.
| Platypus trait | Type of adaptation |
|---|---|
| Webbed front feet that assist with swimming, which can be folded back to expose claws for burrowing and walking on land | |
| Foraging under water primarily during twilight and night-time hours (nocturnal and crepuscular activity) | |
| Slowing the heart rate (bradycardia) from 120 bpm120\text{ bpm}120 bpm to less than 10 bpm10\text{ bpm}10 bpm during deep dives to conserve oxygen | |
| Production of toxic venom in crural glands connected to sharp spurs on the hind limbs of male platypuses |
