100-million-year-old opalised fossils from NSW reveal evidence of an "Age of Monotremes" with the oldest known platypus and a new species, "echidnapus,"

Australian scientists have discovered evidence of an "Age of Monotremes" in 100-million-year-old opalised fossils from the Lightning Ridge opal fields, NSW. The findings, published in the Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, include the oldest known platypus and a new species, dubbed "echidnapus". The discovery suggests Australia was home to a diverse range of monotremes, including the platypus and echidna, 100 million years ago.

May 26, 2024
10 Articles