61 Million Years of Platypus Evolution (IMAGE)

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

61 Million Years of Platypus Evolution

Caption

This shows A, Monotrematum sudamericanum from the Paleocene of Patagonia (63-61 million years old; by James McKinnon); B, Obdurodon dicksoni from the middle Miocene of Riversleigh, Queensland (15 million years old; by Peter Schouten from Schouten et al. Antipodean Ark, in prep.); C, Obdurodon tharalkooschild n. sp. from Riversleigh, Queensland, possibly late Miocene/Pliocene in age (by Peter Schouten); D, The living platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus from eastern Australia (by Rod Scott). All species have functional teeth except the living species, which is the smallest and last surviving member of its family.

Credit

James McKinnon/Schouten et al. Antipodean Ark, in prep./Peter Schouten/Rod Scott

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