Strange Mammals: Unraveling the Secrets of Platypus and Echidna

The platypus and echidna are two of the most unusual mammals on the planet. They are found in Australia and New Guinea. These creatures are unique because they are the only mammals that lay eggs. The platypus is known for its bill and webbed feet, which resemble those of a duck. It also has a beaver-like tail. This small, amphibious creature spends a lot of time in the water, hunting for food. The echidna, often called the spiny anteater, lives entirely on land. It is covered in pointy quills and has rear feet that face backward, which helps it burrow into the ground. Neither of these animals has teeth. They both produce milk, but instead of nipples, they secrete milk through their skin for their young to lap up. A recent discovery has added a new layer to the story of these strange mammals. A fossilized humerus bone, discovered in 1993 at Dinosaur Cove in southeastern Australia, has provided clues about their ancient ancestor. The fossil, named Kryoryctes cadburyi, lived over 100 million years ago. From the outside, the bone looked more like that of a land-dwelling echidna. However, advanced 3D imaging revealed that internally, the bone had characteristics of the semiaquatic platypus. This includes a thicker bone wall and a smaller central cavity, which are useful for reducing buoyancy and making it easier for the creature to dive underwater. This finding supports the idea that Kryoryctes is a common ancestor of both the platypus and echidna. It suggests that at the time of the dinosaurs, this ancestor may have lived at least partially in the water. This discovery is significant because it opens up new possibilities for understanding the evolution of mammals. The platypus and echidna provide a window into the origins of mammals on Earth. They show that the amphibious lifestyle of the modern platypus had its origins at least 100 million years ago. The echidna, on the other hand, made a much later transition to a fully terrestrial lifestyle. The evolution of these animals tells a fascinating story about mammals. There are well-known examples of animals evolving from land to water, such as dolphins and whales. However, there are few examples of animals evolving from water to land. This transition requires significant changes to the musculoskeletal system, including new positioning of the limbs and lighter bones. The echidna's backward feet may be a remnant of this evolutionary journey, inherited from a swimming ancestor that used its hind legs as rudders. The primitive history of these unusual animals is crucial to our understanding of how mammals, including humans, came to be. Monotremes, which include the platypus and echidna, are living relics from a very distant past. They provide valuable insights into the biology of our last common ancestor, which lived over 180 million years ago.