When discovered, the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) astounded zoologists – what could this animal possibly be? It did not fit into any known classification systems. A multitude of animals filled the museum cabinets of Europe, but this was a very, very different one indeed, and the level of scientific interest in the platypus was enormous. Many were captured, killed, dissected and sent to museums around the world. It took years for science to unravel the mystery of the platypus, and its mode of reproduction. Aboriginals knew about it, but scientists didn't believe it. The mystery wasn't solved until 1884.

Tasmania only played a small role in the unravelling of the platypus conundrum, but the visit of French naturalist, M. Jules Verreaux, between 1842 and 1844 revealed much about their habits. Verreaux spent many days observing platypus in the streams and rivers near New Norfolk. Tasmanian specimens were taken back to Paris for the natural history museum collections, where they formed the basis of early scientific work on the species. These two specimens have been part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery collection from the 1800s.