This artwork strives to explore the evolutionary uniqueness of the platypus, whose mosaic of traits forms one of nature’s most astonishing puzzles.

At the centre of the page, the large-scale portrait draws attention to the unmistakable beak that gives the animal its name, while also highlighting the exceptional density of the platypus’s fur.

Above it, the full-body underwater view captures the animal gliding effortlessly - eyes and ears closed as it relies entirely on electrolocation to navigate and detect movement.

Below, the surface-swimming scene evokes the colours of its Australian waterways, depicting the platypus half-submerged with its nostrils raised just above the water.

A top-down study of the head reveals the grooves in which the eyes and ears fold shut underwater, while also showing the bill’s soft, flexible, and sensory-rich texture. 

Close-ups of the webbed foot and the male’s venomous spur allude to two more remarkable adaptations, from the powerful, paddle-like front limbs used for propulsion to the rare mammalian venom produced during the breeding season.

Completing the page, the platypus skull visually links back to the main portrait. Providing a unique insight into its anatomy, it showcases the bifurcated structure that underlies the bill.