When echidnas are developing, their beaks have receptors for detecting ... which the animals use like a rudder when swimming. "Platypus-like fossils date back 100 million years, but the oldest ...

Yet, the duck-billed platypus has a beak, lactates, and is venomous. Phenetic categorisation doesn’t always work. By contrast, cladistic, or evolutionary, approaches trace the branching tree ...

It wasn't a surprising conclusion, given how unusual the platypus is. With its duck-like beak, beaver tail, otter paws, and mole fur, the platypus is the sole living representative of its family ...

"The bill of the platypus is well known to have lots of highly sensitive receptors that detect tiny electrical currents generated by prey," Hand points out. "And while the beak of the echidnas has ...

Found in Australia and New Guinea, the platypus and echidna are called monotremes, and they are unique for being the only mammals that lay eggs. The amphibious platypus has a bill and webbed feet ...

Notoriously tough to count, the venomous, egg-laying mammals seem to be declining. Platypus researcher and ecologist Josh Griffiths cradles a female platypus he just captured. Researchers are ...