Obdurodon

views updated May 23 2018

Obdurodon (order Monotremata, family Ornithorhynchidae) A genus of early Miocene platypus, with two species, known from very well preserved material from such sites as Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia. They possessed well-developed, functional teeth, unlike the living platypus, and had skull bones that were less fused, from which it can be seen that monotremes, unlike other living mammals, retained septomaxillae.

Obdurodon

views updated May 08 2018

Obdurodon (order Monotremata, family Ornithorhynchidae) A genus of early Miocene platypus, with two species, known from very well-preserved material from such sites as Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia. They possessed well-developed, functional teeth, unlike the living platypus, and had skull bones that were less fused, from which it can be seen that monotremes (Monotremata), unlike other living mammals, retained septomaxillae.

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