The beloved platypus may be under threat from extinction within 50 years scientists warn, as their habitat falls victim to climate change.

Dry river beds are turning up platypus corpses at alarming rates, researchers warn, and even if the crushing drought breaks soon, it may be too late to prevent the species' paddle towards extinction.

The study, published in the February edition of Biological Conservation, concluded that the monotreme's elusive personality makes it difficult to ascertain its exact distribution and abundance across Australia.

Based on observed population declines and local extinctions, however, the species was expected to decline from "near-threatened" status to "vulnerable" under the IUCN Red List criteria with five decades.

Researchers say platypus numbers could decline by more than 60 per cent over the next 50 years. Credit: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Under climate change projections to 2070, increased extreme drought - both in frequency and severity - is predicted to expose platypuses to increased local extinctions, the study found.

This would amount to reducing current populations by as much as 73 per cent in some regions within the next five decades.

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The study concluded that there is an urgent need to introduce a national conservation plan to save the platypus, by conducting further surveys, tracking trends, managing predator threats and improving the specie's river habitat.