Circadian Activity Rhythms in the Australian Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Monotremata)

The Australian platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, is one of three extant genera of the order monotremata. Given the divergent evolutionary lineage of monotremes in relation to more commonly studied animals, it was of interest to determine first, whether platypuses possess endogenous biological pacemakers and, second, general parameters of aquatic activity rhythms under artificial and natural light-dark (LD) cycles. Using a novel recording device, aquatic activity rhythms were measured in three platypuses: a paired male and female studied together, and a single female studied in isolation from other platypuses. Under a constant photic environment, some evidence was found for persistent and free-running rhythmicity, indicating the presence of an endogenous circadian pacemaker in the platypus. Under artificial LD cycles the paired animals exhibited a nocturnal pattern of entrainment, although in the single female considerable variability in entrained phase-relations was found under natural LD cycles. Evidence for a circadian pacemaker in the hypothalamic region of platypuses is also discussed.