A new, giant platypus,<i>Obdurodon tharalkooschild</i>, sp. nov. (Monotremata, Ornithorhynchidae), from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia

Pian, Rebecca; Archer, Michael; Hand, Suzanne J.

doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.782876

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This finding does not necessarily contradict fossil evidence but suggest that the modern platypus extends back to the Early to Middle Pliocene. This could be consistent with it having evolved from the giant platypus species O. tharalkooschild , as suggested by Pian et al. (2013) .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Insights into Platypus Population Structure and History from Whole-Genome Sequencing

Martin

Batty

Hussin

et al. 2018

Molecular Biology and Evolution

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The platypus is an egg-laying mammal which, alongside the echidna, occupies a unique place in the mammalian phylogenetic tree. Despite widespread interest in its unusual biology, little is known about its population structure or recent evolutionary history. To provide new insights into the dispersal and demographic history of this iconic species, we sequenced the genomes of 57 platypuses from across the whole species range in eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Using a highly improved reference genome, we called over 6.7 M SNPs, providing an informative genetic data set for population analyses. Our results show very strong population structure in the platypus, with our sampling locations corresponding to discrete groupings between which there is no evidence for recent gene flow. Genome-wide data allowed us to establish that 28 of the 57 sampled individuals had at least a third-degree relative among other samples from the same river, often taken at different times. Taking advantage of a sampled family quartet, we estimated the de novo mutation rate in the platypus at 7.0 × 10−9/bp/generation (95% CI 4.1 × 10−9–1.2 × 10−8/bp/generation). We estimated effective population sizes of ancestral populations and haplotype sharing between current groupings, and found evidence for bottlenecks and long-term population decline in multiple regions, and early divergence between populations in different regions. This study demonstrates the power of whole-genome sequencing for studying natural populations of an evolutionarily important species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Insights into Platypus Population Structure and History from Whole-Genome Sequencing

Martin

Batty

Hussin

et al. 2018

Molecular Biology and Evolution

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“…As observed in Mysticeti, extant Ornithorhynchus is descended from recent ancestors that retained a mature dentition (Woodburne and Tedford, ; Archer et al, ; Musser and Archer, ; Pascual et al, ). With evidence from the fossil record of toothed Ornithorhynchidae (Woodburne and Tedford, ; Archer et al, ; Pascual et al, , , ; Musser and Archer, ; Rich et al, ; Pian et al, ), an evolutionary pattern of adult dentition replaced by unique keratin structures can be reconstructed across ornithorhynchid phylogeny. Mature individuals of the Oligocene ornithorhynchid Obdurodon dicksoni possessed teeth as well as the anterior keratinous secateuring ridges (Musser and Archer, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vascularization of the Gray Whale Palate (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Eschrichtius robustus): Soft Tissue Evidence for an Alveolar Source of Blood to Baleen

Ekdale

Deméré

Berta

2015

The Anatomical Record

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The origin of baleen in mysticetes heralded a major transition during cetacean evolution. Extant mysticetes are edentulous in adulthood, but rudimentary teeth develop in utero within open maxillary and mandibular alveolar grooves. The teeth are resorbed prenatally and the alveolar grooves close as baleen germ develops. Arteries supplying blood to highly vascularized epithelial tissue from which baleen develops pass through lateral nutrient foramina in the area of the embryonic alveolar grooves and rudimentary teeth. Those vessels are hypothesized to be branches of the superior alveolar artery, but branches of the greater palatine arteries may play a role in the baleen vascularization. Through a combination of latex injection, CT, and traditional dissection of the palate of a neonatal gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), we confirm that the baleen receives blood from vessels within the superior alveolar canal via the lateral foramina. The greater palatine artery is restricted to its own passage with no connections to the baleen. This study has implications for the presence of baleen in extinct taxa by identifying the vessels and bony canals that supply blood to the epithelium from which baleen develops. The results indicate that the lateral foramina in edentulous mysticete fossils are bony correlates for the presence of baleen, and the results can be used to help identify bony canals and foramina that have been used to reconstruct baleen in extinct mysticetes that retained teeth in adulthood. Further comparisons are made with mammals that also possess oral keratin structures, including ruminants, ornithorhynchid monotremes, and sirenians. Anat Rec, 298:691-702, 2015. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Key words: baleen; gray whale; Eschrichtius robustus; vascularization; palateIn this article, we investigate the blood supply to the baleen and surrounding epithelium covering the hard palate in a neonatal gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Baleen is a neomorphic keratinous structure that is unique to mysticete cetaceans (baleen whales) and functions as a natural sieve to trap prey during filter feeding (Pivorunas, 1979;Werth, 2001Werth, , 2004Werth, , 2013. Baleen develops as a series of transverse laminae (main and minor plates) that form a pair of bilateral racks along the ventrolateral borders of the maxillae. The racks of baleen laminae (or baleen racks) are oriented parasagittally, and they are deeply embedded within the highly Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

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“…4A and 4B) of a species named Obdurodon dicksoni were discovered in Middle Miocene freshwater limestones (~15 Mya) in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland (Lester and Archer 1986; Archer et al 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000; Musser and Archer 1998; Macrini et al 2006; Asahara et al 2016). A second, much larger, Riversleigh species, Obdurodon tharalkooschild , was later discovered (Pian et al 2013). The Riversleigh species appears to have lived in pools within cool, temperate, lowland rainforest (Archer et al 1995, 2000).…”

Section: Fossil Record and Phylogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By the late Oligocene/Miocene (25–15 Mya), at least three ornithorhynchids occurred across the continent of Australia but none survived on other continents. Today, the platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) maintains an even more restricted area, the river systems of eastern Australia (modified after Archer 1995; Steropodon image by Peter Schouten; Monotrematum image by James McKinnon—Archer 1995; Obdurodon image by Peter Schouten—Pian et al 2013; Ornithorhynchus artwork by Rod Scott, Australian Geographic Magazine ).…”

Section: Fossil Record and Phylogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

The platypus: evolutionary history, biology, and an uncertain future

Bino

Kingsford

Archer

et al. 2019

Journal of Mammalogy

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The platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) is one of the world’s most evolutionarily distinct mammals, one of five extant species of egg-laying mammals, and the only living species within the family Ornithorhynchidae. Modern platypuses are endemic to eastern mainland Australia, Tasmania, and adjacent King Island, with a small introduced population on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and are widely distributed in permanent river systems from tropical to alpine environments. Accumulating knowledge and technological advancements have provided insights into many aspects of its evolutionary history and biology but have also raised concern about significant knowledge gaps surrounding distribution, population sizes, and trends. The platypus’ distribution coincides with many of Australia’s major threatening processes, including highly regulated and disrupted rivers, intensive habitat destruction, and fragmentation, and they were extensively hunted for their fur until the early 20th century. Emerging evidence of local population declines and extinctions identifies that ecological thresholds have been crossed in some populations and, if threats are not addressed, the species will continue to decline. In 2016, the IUCN Red Listing for the platypus was elevated to “Near Threatened,” but the platypus remains unlisted on threatened species schedules of any Australian state, apart from South Australia, or nationally. In this synthesis, we review the evolutionary history, genetics, biology, and ecology of this extraordinary mammal and highlight prevailing threats. We also outline future research directions and challenges that need to be met to help conserve the species.

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A new, giant platypus,Obdurodon tharalkooschild, sp. nov. (Monotremata, Ornithorhynchidae), from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia

Cited by 18 publications

References 20 publications

Insights into Platypus Population Structure and History from Whole-Genome Sequencing

Insights into Platypus Population Structure and History from Whole-Genome Sequencing

Vascularization of the Gray Whale Palate (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Eschrichtius robustus): Soft Tissue Evidence for an Alveolar Source of Blood to Baleen

The platypus: evolutionary history, biology, and an uncertain future

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