Question

What is the closest living relative to platypus?

Answer 1

The closest living relative to platypus is the echidna, also known as spiny anteaters. Both platypus and echidnas are monotremes, which means egg-laying mammals. They share similar physical characteristics such as the ability to lay eggs, a uniquely shaped bill, and the presence of electroreceptors used for hunting prey in water.

Answer 2

The closest living relative to the platypus is the echidna, also known as the spiny anteater. Both the platypus and echidna belong to the group of mammals known as monotremes, which are unique in that they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. The platypus and echidna share several characteristics, such as the ability to produce milk but also having specialized beaks, electroreceptors, and certain anatomical features that are distinct to monotremes. While the platypus and echidna are distinct species, they share a common ancestry and are considered each other's closest living relatives.

Answer 3

The platypus is one of only five extant species of monotremes, which are primitive mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Its closest living relative is the echidna, another Australian monotreme that shares many unique features with the platypus, such as electroreception and the ability to produce milk without nipples.

Answer 4

The platypus is one of only five species of monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. The closest living relative to the platypus is the echidna. There are two types of echidnas: the short-beaked echidna and the long-beaked echidna. Both types of echidnas, along with the platypus, make up the order Monotremata, and they share common ancestry as well as the characteristic of laying eggs, which is a unique feature among mammals.