Scientists Unearth 6 New Ancient Monotreme Species in Australia, Including Unique 'Echidnapus'
May 27, 2024![Scientists Unearth 6 New Ancient Monotreme Species in Australia, Including Unique 'Echidnapus'](https://cdn.brief.news/images/stories/d3fc30d54ade434b29622e4c4484c72e5d3afbf7b042cdf050906a8fff93f87b7b9f72ba3637a987b46ae6bac00705af1e10ec9b8aafdd0dbe961f50457258ce.png)
Renowned Australian scientists, including Tim Flannery, have uncovered six new species of ancient monotremes in opalised fossils from Lightning Ridge, NSW.
The fossils date back 100 million years and include the intriguing 'echidnapus,' a semiaquatic creature with characteristics of both the platypus and echidna.
This discovery offers a glimpse into the common ancestor of modern monotremes.
The find provides valuable insights into a time when monotremes thrived in Australia before the rise of marsupials.
The fossils suggest that the evolution of platypus teeth may have been influenced by the arrival of the water rat in Australia.
These rare opalised fossils underscore the significance of continued exploration in unraveling the mysteries of Earth's evolutionary history.
Summary based on 4 sources
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![‘Enormously exciting’ fossils found in NSW opal field suggest Australia had ‘age of monotremes’](https://cdn.brief.news/images/links/d3fc30d54ade434b29622e4c4484c72e5d3afbf7b042cdf050906a8fff93f87b7b9f72ba3637a987b46ae6bac00705af1e10ec9b8aafdd0dbe961f50457258ce.png)
The Guardian • May 26, 2024
‘Enormously exciting’ fossils found in NSW opal field suggest Australia had ‘age of monotremes’![New fossils provide evidence for an 'Age of Monotremes'](https://cdn.brief.news/images/links/bcd2ad82eaf683d42e0892ef828be741eef830f41fb943634ade22e4baeff6ca10270f791f05162d5b0180382b74b5479acc10af46d0233f554ae358c40eeb17.jpg)
Phys.org • May 26, 2024
New fossils provide evidence for an 'Age of Monotremes'![Meet the ‘echidnapus’, a bizarre blend of the world’s strangest creatures](https://cdn.brief.news/images/links/da40d67963a92dba85efa43d94e625e5f329c29d458678373bf77ce0e0c27909747566979038e4ec07a10c0e7e87ae29f498343701da9ef2f16fe8e1b12c77bb.png)
The Sydney Morning Herald • May 26, 2024
Meet the ‘echidnapus’, a bizarre blend of the world’s strangest creatures![Meet the ‘echidnapus’, a bizarre blend of the world’s strangest creatures](https://cdn.brief.news/images/links/7132c4d02545a046d03e6254f262de1891de6d6570e1f6c05900327378d893749a3e15694f70d710becadb3e43cfcafdb49f544f6b68c0635485418106a99941.png)
The Age • May 26, 2024
Meet the ‘echidnapus’, a bizarre blend of the world’s strangest creatures