Ornithorhynchidae
Encyclopedia
Ornithorhynchidae is one of the two extant families in the order Monotremata
, and contains the Platypus
and its extinct relatives. The other family is the Tachyglossidae, or echidna
s. Within Ornithorhynchidae are two genera
, Obdurodon
and Ornithorhynchus:
Another two genera, Steropodon
and Teinolophos
may also belong to Ornithorhynchidae. However, they are both very ancient, and scientific literature seems to indicate that they are closely related to, but not a part of, the Ornithorhynchids.
Monotreme
Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals...
, and contains the Platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
and its extinct relatives. The other family is the Tachyglossidae, or echidna
Echidna
Echidnas , also known as spiny anteaters, belong to the family Tachyglossidae in the monotreme order of egg-laying mammals. There are four extant species, which, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of that order and are the only extant mammals that lay eggs...
s. Within Ornithorhynchidae are two genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Obdurodon
Obdurodon
Obdurodon is an extinct monotreme genus containing three species. Obdurodon differed from modern platypuses in that it had molar teeth .-Obdurodon dicksoni:...
and Ornithorhynchus:
- Family Ornithorhynchidae
- Genus †ObdurodonObdurodonObdurodon is an extinct monotreme genus containing three species. Obdurodon differed from modern platypuses in that it had molar teeth .-Obdurodon dicksoni:...
— an ancient branch of the platypus family- †Obdurodon dicksoni
- †Obdurodon insignis
- †Obdurodon/Monotrematum sudamericanum
- Genus OrnithorhynchusPlatypusThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
- Ornithorhynchus anatinus (the modern PlatypusPlatypusThe platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
) - †Ornithorhynchus maximus
- Ornithorhynchus anatinus (the modern Platypus
- Genus †Obdurodon
Another two genera, Steropodon
Steropodon
Steropodon galmani was a prehistoric species of monotreme, or egg-laying mammal, that lived during the middle Albian stage, in the Lower Cretaceous period...
and Teinolophos
Teinolophos
Teinolophos trusleri was a prehistoric species of monotreme, or egg-laying mammal. It is known from a lower jawbone found in Flat Rocks, Victoria, Australia. It lived during the Aptian age of the Lower Cretaceous. It is the earliest known relative of the Platypus.The species name honours the...
may also belong to Ornithorhynchidae. However, they are both very ancient, and scientific literature seems to indicate that they are closely related to, but not a part of, the Ornithorhynchids.