The platypus is even weirder than it looks. At more than a metre long, this platypus doubles the size of modern platypus. Dubbed “New Riversleigh”, initial indications are that it represents a different time period and poorly-known stage in the evolution of Australia’s unique biota. George Shaw, who produced the first description of the animal in the Naturalist's Miscellanyin 1799, stated it was impossible not to entertain doubts as to its genuine nature, and Robert Kn… The premolars had only one root and a very different shape from the molars. NOW PLAYING: Trending Amazing and Interesting Facts about the Platypus, An Strange One in the Animal Kingdom The Riversleigh Sprite Possum belongs to an extinct group of possums called the ektopodontids. [5] The second specimen discovered there, AMNH 97228, is an upper right molar. Flexiprator 0 0; 36. In 1975, American palaeontologists Michael Woodbourne and Richard Tedford published a description of ancient platypus teeth from the Etadunna and Namba formations in central Australia. Even more exciting was the discovery of the teeth of a 61-million-year-old South American relative in 1992. A “platypus-zilla” as researchers are calling it, measuring in at over three feet in length, was a meat eater and enjoyed munching on turtles and frogs as snacks, a new tooth fossil reveals. [13][7] A philosophical examination of historical sciences such as palaeontology, published in 2018, uses the tooth of this platypus as an example of the results obtainable by multiple methods of research into traces of evidence; the author refers to the species by the vernacular "platyzilla".[14]. The shape of its beak suggests that O. dicksoni sought prey by digging in the sides of rivers, whereas the modern platypus digs in the bottom of the river. The closest living relatives of the Riversleigh Sprite Possum are the brushtailed possums and cuscuses. Description of the skull and non-vestigial dentition of a Miocene platypus (, Lake Ngapakaldi to Lake Palankarinna Fossil Area, "Fossil of giant platypus unearthed in Riversleigh", "New information about the skull and dentary of the Miocene platypus Obdurodon dicksoni, and a discussion of ornithorhynchid relationships", "Giant Platypus Found, Shakes Up Evolutionary Tree", "Extinct 'Godzilla' platypus found in Australia - Yahoo News UK", "Giant extinct toothed platypus discovered", "Tharalkoo's child: an ugly duckling story. In this section, find out everything you need to know about visiting the Australian Museum, how to get here and the extraordinary exhibitions on display. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Demon Duck of Doom 0 2; 37. The Low Lion Local Fauna (LF) and Dirk's Towers Local Fauna are possibly older then the Riversleigh Local Fauna. … Its skull is one of the most perfect fossils known from Riversleigh. This was followed in 1985 by a spectacular find: an almost complete skull of a fossil platypus about 15 to 20 million years old. However, like O. dicksoni but unlike the modern platypus, it had more permanent dentition. The new platypus species, named Obdurodon tharalkooschild, is based on a single tooth from the famous Riversleigh World Heritage Area of northwest Queensland. — Riversleigh in north west Queensland, Australia, is one of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Riversleigh Killer Kangaroo 0 0; 28. Hand, P. Murray, and H. Godthelp, describing a skull and several teeth found in lower-middle Miocene deposits from the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites. The species was estimated to have been present in the middle and upper Miocene (5–15 million years ago). Fossil fauna from the Riversleigh site have altered our understanding about Australia's mid-Cainozoic vertebrate diversity. Check out the What's On calendar of events, workshops and school holiday programs. Its skull is one of the most perfect fossils known from the area. It had a short face, huge, forward-facing eyes, and unusual teeth that it probably used to eat seeds or hard fruits in the forest. Research suggests this has been a gradual adaptation to harsh environmental conditions on the part of the small number of surviving monotreme species rather than a historical characteristic of monotremes. Molars had only been found apart from skulls, implying that they were not well-anchored. Platypus, small amphibious Australian mammal noted for its odd combination of primitive features and special adaptations, especially the flat, almost comical duck-beak-like bill. 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