![]() ![]() In contrast, the back feet are only moderately webbed and mainly used for grooming the fur. The end of each front foot is equipped with a broad expanse of webbing, forming a highly effective paddle when the animal swims and dives. Interestingly, the platypus relies almost exclusively on its front limbs to propel itself through the water. The fur is dark brown above (apart from a small light-colored spot just in front of each eye) while the chest and belly are silvery cream, sometimes marked with a tawny or reddish streak running along the animal's midline. The animal's color pattern ensures that the platypus blends in with its watery environment when viewed from either above or below. The platypus has a flattened, streamlined head and body, well suited to its aquatic lifestyle. ![]() The taxonomy of this species is Ornithorynchus anatinus (Shaw, 1799), New Holland (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia. Based on genetic evidence, it is believed that the platypus and echidna lines have been evolving separately since the late Cretaceous or early Tertiary periods, 63–78 mya. The nearest living relatives are the echidnas (family Tachyglossidae). ![]() At least one type of ancient platypus is also known to have lived in the Patagonian region of South America some 61–63 million years ago (mya), when South America was still physically joined to Australia as part of the giant southern supercontinent, Gondwana. Several extinct ornithorhynchid species have been described, mainly from fossils found in Australia. No subspecies or races are known to occur. The family Ornithorhynchidae includes just one modern species, the duck-billed platypus. Amphibious predator in freshwater habitats, characterized by a broad tail, flat head and body, short limbs adapted to digging and swimming, and conspicuous duck-like billġ6–24 in (0.4–0.6 m) 1.5–6.6 lb (0.7–3 kg)Įastern Australia, including Tasmania Evolution and systematics ![]()
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