Editing Platypus (section)

=== Cultural references ===
The platypus has been a subject in the [[Dreamtime]] stories of [[Aboriginal Australians]], some of whom believed the animal was a hybrid of a duck and a [[Rakali|water rat]].<ref name=Gadi>{{cite book|author1=McKay, Helen F. |author2=McLeod, Pauline E. |author3=Jones, Francis F. |author4=Barber, June E. |year=2001|title=Gadi Mirrabooka: Australian Aboriginal Tales from the Dreaming|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|isbn=978-1563089237}}</ref>{{rp|57–60}}

According to one story of the upper [[Darling River]],<ref name=2020report/> the major animal groups, the land animals, water animals and birds, all competed for the platypus to join their respective groups, but the platypus ultimately decided to not join any of them, feeling that he did not need to be part of a group to be special,<ref name=Gadi/>{{rp|83–85}} and wished to remain friends with all of those groups.<ref name=2020report/> Another Dreaming story emanate of the upper Darling tells of a young duck which ventured too far, ignoring the warnings of her tribe, and was kidnapped by a large water-rat called Biggoon. After managing to escape after some time, she returned and laid two eggs which hatched into strange furry creatures, so they were all banished and went to live in the mountains.<ref name=2020report/>

The platypus is also used by some Aboriginal peoples as a [[totem]], which is to them "a natural object, plant or animal that is inherited by members of a clan or family as their spiritual emblem", and the animal holds special meaning as a totem animal for the [[Wadi Wadi]] people, who live along the [[Murray River]]. Because of their cultural significance and importance in [[connection to country]], the platypus is protected and conserved by these Indigenous peoples.<ref name=2020report/>

The platypus has often been used as a symbol of Australia's [[cultural identity]]. In the 1940s, live platypuses were given to allies in the [[Second World War]], in order to strengthen ties and boost morale.<ref name=2020report/>

Platypuses have been used several times as mascots: Syd the platypus was one of the three mascots chosen for the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000 summer Olympics]] along with an echidna and a [[kookaburra]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.com/31/87/article211928731.shtml |title=A Brief History of the Olympic and Paralympic Mascots |publisher=Beijing2008 |date=5 August 2004 |access-date=25 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621113930/http://en.beijing2008.com/31/87/article211928731.shtml |archive-date=21 June 2008 }}</ref> Expo Oz the platypus was the mascot for [[World Expo 88]], which was held in [[Brisbane]] in 1988,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foundationexpo88.org/aboutcontents.html |title=About World Expo '88 |publisher=Foundation Expo '88 |year=1988 |access-date=17 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219232431/http://www.foundationexpo88.org/aboutcontents.html |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}</ref> and Hexley the platypus is the mascot for the [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]] operating system, the [[BSD]]-based core of [[macOS]] and other operating systems from [[Apple Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hexley.com/|title=The Home of Hexley the Platypus|access-date=25 October 2006|archive-date=13 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213095652/http://www.hexley.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the introduction of [[decimal currency]] to [[Australia]] in 1966, the embossed image of a platypus, designed and sculpted by [[Stuart Devlin]], has appeared on the reverse (tails) side of the [[Australian twenty-cent coin|20-cent coin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ramint.gov.au/twenty-cents|title=Circulating coins: Twenty Cents|date=8 January 2016 |publisher=Royal Australian Mint|access-date=12 September 2020|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319031414/https://www.ramint.gov.au/twenty-cents|url-status=live}}</ref> The platypus has frequently appeared in Australian postage stamps, most recently the 2015 "Native Animals" series and the 2016 "Australian Animals Monotremes" series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/2015-01-13_native-animals.html|title=Native Animals - Issue Date 13 January 2015|publisher=Australia Post Collectables|access-date=12 September 2020|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125223959/https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/2015-01-13_native-animals.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/australian-animals-monotremes.html|title=Australian Animals Monotremes – Issue Date 26 September 2016|publisher=Australia Post Collectables|access-date=12 September 2020|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126001019/https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/australian-animals-monotremes.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the American animated series ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'', the [[title character]]s own a pet bluish-green platypus named [[Perry the Platypus|Perry]] who, unknown to them, is a secret agent. Such choices were inspired by media underuse, as well as to exploit the animal's striking appearance;<ref name="QA">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-ferb-pickup-major-push-85063|title=Disney gives 'Ferb' pickup, major push – Q&A: Dan Povenmire|date=7 June 2009|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203720/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-ferb-pickup-major-push-85063|url-status=live}}</ref> additionally, show creator [[Dan Povenmire]], who also wrote the character's theme song, said that its opening lyrics are based on the introductory sentence of the Platypus article on Wikipedia, copying the "semiaquatic egg-laying mammal" phrase word for word and appending the phrase "of action";<ref>{{Citation|title="Perry the Platypus" Live at Musi-Cal| date=9 August 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnGX-wucxQs|language=en|access-date=23 March 2021|archive-date=2 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102002447/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnGX-wucxQs|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the article did not include "egg-laying mammal" in the lead sentence until 2014, several years after the song released. As a character, Perry has been well received by both fans and critics.<ref name="star">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2009/digital/features/phineas-star-perry-makes-mark-on-auds-1118011690/|title='Phineas' star Perry makes mark on auds|author=Littleton, Cynthia|date=20 November 2009|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=26 November 2009|archive-date=2 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202110736/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011690.html?categoryid=1050&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/03/7-reasons-why-phineas-and-ferb-is-the-best-kids-sh.html|title=Five Reasons Why ''Phineas and Ferb'' is the Best Kids Show on TV|magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|author=Jackson, John|date=31 March 2009|access-date=25 November 2009|archive-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003091539/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/03/7-reasons-why-phineas-and-ferb-is-the-best-kids-sh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Coincidentally, real platypuses show a similar cyan colour when seen under ultraviolet lighting.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anich |first1=Paula Spaeth |last2=Anthony |first2=Sharon |last3=Carlson |first3=Michaela |last4=Gunnelson |first4=Adam |last5=Kohler |first5=Allison M. |last6=Martin |first6=Jonathan G. |last7=Olson |first7=Erik R. |title=Biofluorescence in the platypus (''Ornithorhynchus anatinus'') |journal=Mammalia |date=26 March 2021 |volume=85 |issue=2 |pages=179–181 |doi=10.1515/mammalia-2020-0027 }}</ref>

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Platypus cape unknown tasmania.jpg|Platypus fur cape made in 1890, now in the National Gallery of Victoria
"Nam Sang Woo Safety Matches" platypus matchbox label art - from, Collectie NMvWereldculturen, TM-6477-76, Etiketten van luciferdoosjes, 1900-1949 (cropped).jpg|Early 20th-century [[matchbox]] label
Australianstamp 1551.jpg|9d postage stamp from 1937
</gallery>