Morphological observations on the Erthrocytes, Leukocytes and Platelets of Free-Living Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw) (Monotremata : Ornithorhynchidae)

Abstract

Blood was collected from the bill sinus of 10 healthy, mature platypuses captured in the Upper Shoalhaven River of New South Wales. Blood from all 10 animals was used for light microscopic morphometrical studies, and that from four of them was used for ultrastructural studies. The erythrocytes presented no unusual features and were similar to those described for other monotremes, marsupials and man. Platelets were of a mammalian type and uniform. Features of the leukocytes were compared and contrasted with those of other monotremes, marsupials, domestic mammals and man. Unusual features of the leukocytes of the platypus included the consistent presence of Dohle bodies within segmented neutrophils, and the nonsegmented nature of nuclei of eosinophils and basophils. Ultrastructural studies confirmed these findings.