Pictures and facts about the Duck-billed platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus posters

Duck-billed platypus

Order : Monotremata
Family : Ornithorhynchidae
Species : Ornithorhynchus anatinus

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a member of the order of monotremata, the egg laying mammals. It is very strange: a venomous, duck-billed, egg-laying mammal (?!). It is unlike we have ever seen, until now! Recent fossil discovery of an extinct species named Akidolestes, a half shrew - half platypus species, challenges conventional wisdom about how placental mammals split from earlier egg-layers. The platypus has a low body temparature compared to other mammals, it is only 32°C compared to 38°C. The platypus is one of the closest relatives of ancestral mammals, although it is not itself a link in the chain of mammalian evolution. Its branch is quite separate from any other one known to man. The recent fossil discovery of Akidolestes gives hope to get more insight in the separation of this branch.

Image:
Author striatic http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/17367/
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0

Resources:
National geographic news
Wikipedia on the platypus

Facts about the duck-billed platypus

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a small, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to the eastern part of Australia, and one of the four extant monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other three are echidnas). (Full text)

This duck billed platypus is a brown plush animal with a tan underbelly that emphasizes the unique features of this species. (Full text)

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a small, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to the eastern part of Australia, and one of the four extant monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other three are echidnas). (Full text)

The duck-billed platypus is an animal that reminds me most of an alien I may see walking around on one of the many planets in any of the Star Wars films. (Full text)

This duck billed platypus is a brown plush animal with a tan underbelly that emphasizes the unique features of this species. (Full text)

com: The Duck-billed Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, is a primitive Australian mammal (a monotreme) that lays eggs. (Full text)

No question about it, the duck-billed platypus is one strange creature. (Full text)

The Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus is one of the world's three extant egg-laying mammals (order Monotremata) and inhabits the lakes, rivers and streams of . (Full text)

Binomial name Ornithorhynchus anatinus The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a small, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to the eastern part of Australia, and one of the four monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. (Full text)

The duck-billed platypus is a very strange looking animal. (Full text)

Anatomy: The Duck-billed Platypus is about the size of a pet cat. (Full text)

The Duck-billed Platypus is a very odd-looking beast ! (Full text)

This detailed figurine (small statuette) of a duck billed platypus is made of Australian pewter in Tasmania. (Full text)

anatinus Binomial name Ornithorhynchus anatinus Shaw, 1799 The Platypus or Mallangong (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a small, semi-aquatic mammal endemic to the eastern part of Australia, and one of the four extant monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other three are echidnas). (Full text)

Taxonomic information The platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) is a small, semi-aquatic mammal (Full text)

The reason that the duck-billed platypus is a mammal is that it has thick fur and (Full text)

Scott Huse (1983) starts his discussion of the platypus by saying: "Evolutionists insist that the duck-billed platypus is an evolutionary link between mammals and birds. (Full text)