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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.