SYDNEY: Australia’s burrowing echidna evolved from a water-dwelling ancestor in an “extremely rare” biological event, scientists said Tuesday in a new study of the peculiar egg-laying mammals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With powerful digging claws, protective spikes and highly sensitive beaks, echidnas are well suited to a life shuffling through the forest undergrowth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But a team of Australian and international scientists believe many of the echidna’s unusual traits were first developed millions of years ago when its ancestors splashed through the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re talking about a semiaquatic mammal that gave up the water for a terrestrial existence,” said paleontologist Suzanne Hand, from the University of New South Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“While that would be an extremely rare event, we think that’s what happened with echidnas.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echidnas and another Australian oddity, the semi-aquatic platypus, are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor called Kryoryctes cadburyi that lived in Australia more than 100 million years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers studied the single known bone fragment left by this ancestor, which was discovered among a trove of fossils at Dinosaur Cove in southern Australia some 30 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platypus bones were similar to this ancient ancestor, Hand said, with a thick and heavy structure that provided ballast for diving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echidnas, in comparison, had very thin bone walls that made it easier to walk on land, Hand said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This indicated echidnas were descended from a water-dwelling ancestor but had evolved to live on land, the research found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was far more common for prehistoric mammals to go from land to water, Hand said, pointing towards seals, whales, dolphins and dugongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The researchers said these findings appeared to be supported by other echidna traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echidnas have backward-facing hind feet that help them shift mounds of soil when burrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These feet may have first developed as rudders helping the echidna’s ancestor navigate fast-moving waterways, Hand said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echidnas also have a “diving reflex” when submerged in water, which tells their body to conserve oxygen helping them hold their breath for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echidnas and platypus are monotremes, a rare group of mammals that lay eggs instead of live young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’re hoping we’ll discover other ancestral monotremes that will help unravel the early history of this most fascinating group of mammals,” said study co-author Michael Archer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research was published in peer-reviewed journal PNAS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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