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Know Your Platypus

After 43 Years, The Platypus Trophy Returns to the Alumni of Both Schools

Its been 43 years since it was last involved in a football game but the alumni of Oregon State and Oregon are bringing back the Platypus Trophy to the Civil War.

Why a Platypus you ask? Well to help answer that question lets fine more about the Platypus.

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The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.

The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot which delivers a poison capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the Platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and a recognizable and iconic symbol of Australia; it has appeared as a mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin.

Until the early 20th century it was hunted for its fur, but it is now protected throughout its range. Although captive breeding programs have had only limited success and the Platypus is vulnerable to the effects of pollution, it is not under any immediate threat. > Learn More

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So now that you know more about the rare and strange Platypus, do you understand why it was once and apparently is again the symbol of our famed "Civil War" game? Hey, teams around the country have all sorts of trophies for their rivalry games, guns, buckets, hammers, you name it. So a hand carved trophy of an animal that is half Duck, half Beaver seems very appropriate for this contest. I for one an looking forward to seeing it at the alumni center very soon!

BFS