Platypus : New Fossils
New fossils from South Australia reveal a new species of ancient platypus that still had teeth – something modern platypuses lost long ago.
- The platypus is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia.
- Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Platypuses occur in freshwater systems from tropical rainforest lowlands and plateaus of far northern Queensland to cold, high altitudes of Tasmania and the Australian Alps.
- When not foraging, the platypus spends most of the time in its burrow in the bank of the river, creek, or a pond.
- Platypus is well adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
- In addition, males possess a horny spur on their ankles, which is connected to a venom gland in the upper leg, making the Platypus one of the few venomous mammals.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
