Like the platypus, this new species that lived 100 million years ago was discovered in Australia

Like the platypus, this new species that lived 100 million years ago was discovered in Australia. It could change Australia's evolutionary story.

l'Australia A fascinating country in many ways. The region is full of breathtaking landscapes, with a very diverse fauna and flora. It is a wonderful playground for scientists who want to better understand our past. Recently, experts announced that they Discovered a new prehistoric animal species, EchidnabusAfter analyzing fossil remains found in a field in the southeast of the country 25 years ago.

Like the platypus, this new species was discovered in Australia

EchidnabusFrom its official scientific name opalios splendens(Bottom left in above imageAustralian Museum), derives its nickname from its resemblance to two mammals, the echidna and the platypus, which our British friends call “platypus”.

“It's like we're discovering a new civilization,” says mammalogist Tim Flannery, lead author of the study. The discovery suggests that Australia may have experienced an “age of the monotremes” – of which echidnas and platypus are a part – when these animals were dominant and, today, unfortunately very rare.

It could change Australia's evolutionary story

As for the age of the specimens found, it turns out that they are about 100 million years old. Among the various bones excavated in this opal field in New South Wales, researchers were able to certify the presence of three species that were previously completely unknown to science: “L.'General Anatomy [de opalios splendens] “Maybe similar to a platypus, but the jaw and nose characteristics are a bit closer to those of an echidna,” explains Professor Chris Helken, director of the Australian Museum's Institute of Research.

Paleontologist Elizabeth Smith adds, “Australia has shown the world that long before it became a land of mammals, it was a land of furry egg layers, the monotremes”.

As is often the case in these types of cases, further studies, analyzes and especially fossil finds will be required to draw any conclusions. Researchers in this group believe they can do this. To be continued!