The prehistoric egg-laying mammal thrived in Australia during an "age of monotremes", scientists say.
The 100-million-year-old fossils "foreshadow" the modern platypus and echidna - the only monotremes in the world today, according to Australian Museum Research Institute director and chief scientist, Professor Kris Helgen.sits on a place in the evolutionary tree prior to the evolution of the common ancestor of the monotremes we have today," Helgen said.
"Opal fossils are rare, but opalised monotreme fossils are infinitely more rare, as there's one monotreme fragment to a million other pieces," Elizabeth Smith said.: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, celebrity and sport via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
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