More random thoughts

[psaakyrn]

I'm still curious what's evolutionary theory's answer about the platypus; What are it's ancestors, and how did it become to be?

Comments

[tandabat]

Because I have to answer questions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus#Evolution
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080507-platypus.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507131453.htm

And because sometimes Google gives you things to buy.
http://sgoldman.stores.yahoo.net/evolutiongame.html

[psaakyrn]

I saw the wikipedia one, but it doesn't really give much info: the ancestors shown there looks similar to platypus, but doesn't answer much since the platypus is so much different from any other species.

Though I don't really like the egg-laying genes being called "avian", since it's from the dinosaur era. (and gives a false impression that it's actually related to the avian genetic track)

What I'm curious is what's the in-between from dinosaur to platypus like?

[trede]

That's not implying the avian-like genes are actually avian. It's possible those genes lay dormant in early vertebrates (ancestors of both mammals and dinosaurs/birds) until selected upon when reproduction became more complicated. Covergent evolution and the like

[trede]

[trede]

Here's another cool one:

[trede]

(~164mya, has poisonous spurs like platypus)