Discover more about the egg-laying monotremes of Oceania and the ancient traits they still carry.

An artist’s impression depicts Kryoryctes at Dinosaur Cove in Australia. New research supports the hypothesis that Kryoryctes is a common ancestor of both the platypus and echidna. - Peter Schouten ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Echidnas may have evolved from a water-dwelling ancestor in an unusual evolutionary event, ...

The platypus and echidna, often regarded as some of the most peculiar animals on Earth, may be hiding a far more complex evolutionary story than scientists initially believed. Recent findings from a ...

With a beaver’s tail, webbed feet, and a duck’s bill, platypuses are one of the world’s strangest-looking creatures. They are such an unusual mammal that the first scientists to study them believed ...

Platypuses are so weird scientists sliced them open because they thought they were fake. But why? Male platypus have ven ...

Linda Shearwin receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Frank Grützner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit ...

Monotremes are unique mammals that lay eggs, but their limited geographic ranges make them vulnerable. We explain why.