Six monotremes living in the same place at the same time, 100 million years ago at Lightning Ridge, NSW. Clockwise from lower left: Opalios splendens, a newly described species dubbed an ‘echidnapus’; ...

Ancient bones found in opal fields have given scientists a first-ever insight into a "civilisation" of echidna and platypus-like creatures that roamed Australia 100 million years ago.

Monotremes, found only in Australia and New Guinea, are unique mammals that lay eggs, combining features of reptiles and mammals. This group includes the platypus and four echidna species. They ...

Scientists have found evidence of what they called an ‘Age of Monotremes’ some 100 million years ago in Australia, according to research published on Monday. Research by a team of Australian ...

Scientists have discovered a bizarre creature dubbed the "echidnapus" which they believe roamed Australia in prehistoric times. Fossilised pieces of the animal's jaw bone were found in opal fields in ...

The chance discovery of a long-forgotten tray of fossils in the collections of the Australian Museum has highlighted a previously unknown “Age of Monotremes” that thrived while dinosaurs ruled the ...

Six monotremes living in the same place at the same time, 100 million years ago at Lightning Ridge, NSw. Clockwise from lower left: Opalios splendens, a newly described species dubbed an ‘echidnapus’; ...

The duck-billed platypus is quite the strange mammal. Because it has a bill like a duck, lays eggs like a bird, has poisoned spurs, and swims around in the water with webbed feet and a paddle-like ...

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