Ornithorhynchidae

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Ornithorhynchidae
Platypus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Monotremata Suborder: Platypoda Family: Ornithorhynchidae Gray, 1825
Genera
†Obdurodon Ornithorhynchus

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 echidnas. Within Ornithorhynchidae are two genera, Obdurodon and Ornithorhynchus:

• Family Ornithorhynchidae
  • Genus †Obdurodon — an ancient branch of the platypus family
    • †Obdurodon dicksoni
    • †Obdurodon insignis
    • †Obdurodon/Monotrematum sudamericanum
  • Genus Ornithorhynchus
    • Ornithorhynchus anatinus (the modern Platypus)
    • †Ornithorhynchus maximus

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.

[edit] References

• Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 2. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 

v • d • e Extant Monotremata species by family Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Mammalia · (unranked): Australosphenida Ornithorhynchidae Ornithorhynchus Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Tachyglossidae (Echidnas) Tachyglossus Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Zaglossus (Long-beaked echidnas) Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijni) · Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi) · Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni) Category