Scientists Discover Ancient "Echidnapus" in Australia
Scientists Discover Ancient "Echidnapus" in Australia
A New Discovery
Scientists have found a strange animal from prehistoric times in Australia. They call it the "echidnapus" because it looks like both a platypus and an echidna. These are the only mammals that lay eggs today.
Scientists have found a strange animal from prehistoric times in Australia. They call it the "echidnapus" because it looks like both a platypus and an echidna. These are the only mammals that lay eggs today.
The Fossil Find
The fossils were found in the opal fields of northern New South Wales. They were discovered by paleontologist Elizabeth Smith and her daughter Clytie about 25 years ago while searching through an opal mine's waste.
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The fossils were found in the opal fields of northern New South Wales. They were discovered by paleontologist Elizabeth Smith and her daughter Clytie about 25 years ago while searching through an opal mine's waste.
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Forgotten Fossils
The fossils were given to the Australian Museum, where they were forgotten in a drawer until two years ago. Professor Tim Flannery, a mammalogist, found them and realized they were from ancient egg-laying mammals called monotremes.
The fossils were given to the Australian Museum, where they were forgotten in a drawer until two years ago. Professor Tim Flannery, a mammalogist, found them and realized they were from ancient egg-laying mammals called monotremes.
What Is the Echidnapus?
The official name of the new species is Opalios splendens. It has parts that look like a platypus and parts that look like an echidna. The scientists think these animals were common in Australia long ago, during what they call an "age of monotremes."
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The official name of the new species is Opalios splendens. It has parts that look like a platypus and parts that look like an echidna. The scientists think these animals were common in Australia long ago, during what they call an "age of monotremes."
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More Discoveries
Some bones belonged to a known species, Steropodon galmani, which is an ancestor of the platypus. But other bones were new. The scientists found evidence of three new species. Their findings were published in a scientific journal called Alcheringa.
Some bones belonged to a known species, Steropodon galmani, which is an ancestor of the platypus. But other bones were new. The scientists found evidence of three new species. Their findings were published in a scientific journal called Alcheringa.
Unique Features
These new fossils have features never seen before in living or fossil monotremes. Professor Kris Helgen from the Australian Museum Research Institute, who worked on the study, said the Opalios splendens probably looked a lot like a platypus but had a jaw and snout more like an echidna.
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These new fossils have features never seen before in living or fossil monotremes. Professor Kris Helgen from the Australian Museum Research Institute, who worked on the study, said the Opalios splendens probably looked a lot like a platypus but had a jaw and snout more like an echidna.
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A Glimpse into the Past
The fossils show that Lightning Ridge, which was once a cold, wet forest next to a large inland sea, had many monotremes 100 million years ago. This suggests that Australia was once home to many egg-laying mammals.
The fossils show that Lightning Ridge, which was once a cold, wet forest next to a large inland sea, had many monotremes 100 million years ago. This suggests that Australia was once home to many egg-laying mammals.
Future Research
Some scientists, like Rod Wells from Flinders University, say more evidence is needed to confirm that Australia had a large number of monotremes. The study's authors hope their findings will lead to more funding for further digs in the area.
Some scientists, like Rod Wells from Flinders University, say more evidence is needed to confirm that Australia had a large number of monotremes. The study's authors hope their findings will lead to more funding for further digs in the area.
Conclusion
This exciting discovery shows that prehistoric Australia was very different from today. It was a land where unique egg-laying mammals, like the newly found echidnapus, thrived
This exciting discovery shows that prehistoric Australia was very different from today. It was a land where unique egg-laying mammals, like the newly found echidnapus, thrived
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