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Fossils reveal platypuses swam with dolphins 25 million years ago
Researchers say the fossils include a shoulder bone and molars that place the extinct platypus in a rich freshwater ecosystem with dolphins and other animals.
- Paleontologists from Flinders University discovered rare fossils of a toothed platypus, Obdurodon insignis, at Billeroo Creek in central Australia, dating back 25 million years.
- Unlike the modern platypus, which lacks teeth, Obdurodon possessed well-formed molars and premolars, enabling the species to crush hard-shelled prey in ancient freshwater systems.
- Associate Professor Trevor Worthy identified a rare scapulocoracoid, or shoulder bone, revealing the creature's forelimb structure allowed it to swim effectively, similar to its modern descendant.
- The fossils indicate these platypuses inhabited lakes alongside ancient lungfish, flamingos, and freshwater dolphins 25 million years ago, before the environment changed significantly.
- Ongoing research into these specimens helps scientists reconstruct the "lost world" of Australia's evolutionary past, offering insight into how these unique mammals adapted to ancient habitats.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution34% Left, 33% Center, 33% Right
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
34% Left
L 34%
C 33%
R 33%
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