Fear the Platypus!

[Tladatsi]

Anti-evolutionists are often heard claiming that there are no “transitional’ fossils from one life form to another, fish to amphibian, amphibian to reptile, etc.

However there is a nearly perfect transitional animals living right now, the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The platypus has features characteristics of both reptiles and mammals as well as transitional features. It is warm blooded (although its body temperature is lower than most mammals), feeds its young with milk from mammary glands (although they lack mammae), has typically mammalian jaw joints, has seven cervical vertebrae, excretes nitrogen waste as urea, has a three bone middle ear, has a four chamber heart, red blood cells without nuclei, has fur, and its gender is determined by a combination of X and Y chromosomes (the gender of most reptiles is not determined by chromosomes).

However, the platypus is like reptiles in that they lay eggs, have a single opening for excretion of feces, urine, and reproduction in the female (urino-genital sinus), cervical ribs, internal testes and no scrotum in the male, long, slender sperm with a threadlike head, have a pectoral girdle (including the epipubic bones) which are similar to reptiles (and fossil therapsids), and synthesize ascorbic acid in the kidney. Likewise the presence of paired precoracoid and coracoid bones articulating with the sternum and unpaired T-shaped interclavicles which partially overlie the clavicles make the platypus more similar to reptiles than mammals. Similarly, the absence of lacrimal bones and of auditory bullae are more reptilian features.

How much more of a transitional animal could you want (unless you don’t want to have one).

[Jon_Day]

Anti-evolutionists are often heard claiming that there are no “transitional’ fossils from one life form to another, fish to amphibian, amphibian to reptile, etc.

However there is a nearly perfect transitional animals living right now, the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The platypus has features characteristics of both reptiles and mammals as well as transitional features. It is warm blooded (although its body temperature is lower than most mammals), feeds its young with milk from mammary glands (although they lack mammae), has typically mammalian jaw joints, has seven cervical vertebrae, excretes nitrogen waste as urea, has a three bone middle ear, has a four chamber heart, red blood cells without nuclei, has fur, and its gender is determined by a combination of X and Y chromosomes (the gender of most reptiles is not determined by chromosomes).

However, the platypus is like reptiles in that they lay eggs, have a single opening for excretion of feces, urine, and reproduction in the female (urino-genital sinus), cervical ribs, internal testes and no scrotum in the male, long, slender sperm with a threadlike head, have a pectoral girdle (including the epipubic bones) which are similar to reptiles (and fossil therapsids), and synthesize ascorbic acid in the kidney. Likewise the presence of paired precoracoid and coracoid bones articulating with the sternum and unpaired T-shaped interclavicles which partially overlie the clavicles make the platypus more similar to reptiles than mammals. Similarly, the absence of lacrimal bones and of auditory bullae are more reptilian features.

How much more of a transitional animal could you want (unless you don’t want to have one).

Humans also have both reptile and mammal qualities. I think there are many others as well...like certain kinds of birds...and fish...

[Lucy]

Echindas are the only other living monotremes (egg laying mammals). So that's two transitional forms right there.

Nice post.

[Tladatsi]

Echindas are the only other living monotremes (egg laying mammals). So that's two transitional forms right there.

Nice post.

Thank you.

[Ursus maritimus]

Humans also have both reptile and mammal qualities.

Sure. But the point is that the platypus has the same reptile qualities that a human has, and more besides. That's what makes them transitional.

As always in examining the phylogenic tree, it's not just the existence of similarities between various species and taxa that matter, it is the pattern of the similarities that indicate common descent.

[Jon_Day]

Sure. But the point is that the platypus has the same reptile qualities that a human has, and more besides. That's what makes them transitional.

As always in examining the phylogenic tree, it's not just the existence of similarities between various species and taxa that matter, it is the pattern of the similarities that indicate common descent.

good point. personally i dont see what more evidence is needed for anti-evolutionist promoters.

[OckhamsRazor]

Anti-evolutionists are often heard claiming that there are no “transitional’ fossils from one life form to another, fish to amphibian, amphibian to reptile, etc.

However there is a nearly perfect transitional animals living right now, the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The platypus has features characteristics of both reptiles and mammals as well as transitional features. It is warm blooded (although its body temperature is lower than most mammals), feeds its young with milk from mammary glands (although they lack mammae), has typically mammalian jaw joints, has seven cervical vertebrae, excretes nitrogen waste as urea, has a three bone middle ear, has a four chamber heart, red blood cells without nuclei, has fur, and its gender is determined by a combination of X and Y chromosomes (the gender of most reptiles is not determined by chromosomes).

However, the platypus is like reptiles in that they lay eggs, have a single opening for excretion of feces, urine, and reproduction in the female (urino-genital sinus), cervical ribs, internal testes and no scrotum in the male, long, slender sperm with a threadlike head, have a pectoral girdle (including the epipubic bones) which are similar to reptiles (and fossil therapsids), and synthesize ascorbic acid in the kidney. Likewise the presence of paired precoracoid and coracoid bones articulating with the sternum and unpaired T-shaped interclavicles which partially overlie the clavicles make the platypus more similar to reptiles than mammals. Similarly, the absence of lacrimal bones and of auditory bullae are more reptilian features.

How much more of a transitional animal could you want (unless you don’t want to have one).

So maybe mammals evolved directly from fish with out reptiles. Or maybe they evolved directly from amphibians or maybe ducks evolved from the platypus. Or maybe poisonous snakes evolved from the platypus because the platypus has a poisonous scratch. Or maybe reptiles evolved from mammals.

[Barry Desborough]

So maybe mammals evolved directly from fish with out reptiles. Or maybe they evolved directly from amphibians or maybe ducks evolved from the platypus. Or maybe poisonous snakes evolved from the platypus because the platypus has a poisonous scratch. Or maybe reptiles evolved from mammals.

That's why people have developed methods for finding the best-fit, most parsimonious taxonomies.

[OckhamsRazor]

That's why people have developed methods for finding the best-fit, most parsimonious taxonomies.

I was being silly. The person who did the OP seemed to think that his/her example sealed the deal and any descent was just idiotic. I just pointed out the problems with that kind of dogma.

[Tladatsi]

Sure. But the point is that the platypus has the same reptile qualities that a human has, and more besides. That's what makes them transitional.

UM,

I am afraid you are quite mistaken, human beings have none of the reptilian characteristics that the platypus has. To choose just a few, the human female has three separate openings in the distal portion of the torso, one for the release of urine, one for feces, and one for giving birth whereas the platypus, like all reptiles, there but is a single opening for all three. Human beings, unlike the platypus and reptiles, synthesis ascorbic acid in the liver, not the kidneys. Human beings do not have reptilian hips as the platypus does. Finally, and this is a big one, human beings do not lay eggs, but platypi do.

So, no human being do NOT share the same reptilian characteristics that platypi do.

[Tladatsi]

So maybe mammals evolved directly from fish with out reptiles. Or maybe they evolved directly from amphibians or maybe ducks evolved from the platypus. Or maybe poisonous snakes evolved from the platypus because the platypus has a poisonous scratch. Or maybe reptiles evolved from mammals.

All of those theories may be true if there were any evidence to support them, but there is not. The current theory of evolution that goes rought fish > amphibian > reptile > herapsid > mammal is supported by evidence. All theories are not equal, some are logical and some illogical, some sound, some unsound. The theories above are all equally logical, but only the current theory of evolution is sound. The difference between a sound theory and an unsound theory is the evidence.

[Tladatsi]

Humans also have both reptile and mammal qualities. I think there are many others as well...like certain kinds of birds...and fish...

Unless you are referring to some human personalities, I cannot agree with you. Human beings do not lay eggs, unlike both platypi and reptiles. Likewise, human beings have lacrimal bones in our skulls, like all other mammals, except the platypi, which makes them more similar to reptiles who also lack the lacrimal bones. There are a whole range of other features that NO MAMMALS have but PLATYTPI & REPTILES do have.

[Tladatsi]

I was being silly. The person who did the OP seemed to think that his/her example sealed the deal and any descent was just idiotic. I just pointed out the problems with that kind of dogma.

No, I (he) was simply pointing out that the entire "there are no transitional forms" of life is simply not true. Further, we don't need to look at a bunch of burried bones to see that, we have a living species (actually three, including the Echindas). What is indisputable is that the monotremes have a stark mixuture of classically mammalian (fur & milk) and reptilian features (laying eggs), as well as transitional features, plus a few unique features of their own.

The difference between dogma and science is the evidience, which the former rejects.

[Jon_Day]

Unless you are referring to some human personalities, I cannot agree with you. Human beings do not lay eggs, unlike both platypi and reptiles. Likewise, human beings have lacrimal bones in our skulls, like all other mammals, except the platypi, which makes them more similar to reptiles who also lack the lacrimal bones. There are a whole range of other features that NO MAMMALS have but PLATYTPI & REPTILES do have.

Human beings have a brain which consists of both mammalian and reptilian characteristics. What do you disagree with? Does the trait have to be a direct physical characteristic pertaining to the body...or reproductive organs? What about the brain?

I wasn't intending to disuade your platypus standpoint...that part I am unable to disagree with on any level. I was merely pointing out...that human beings do have some small reptilian characteristics. I understand that the platypus is a much greater example of a combo mammal/reptile...I just thought it was worth pointing out...that humans have a brain that consists of both reptile and mammal characteristics.

[OckhamsRazor]

No, I (he) was simply pointing out that the entire "there are no transitional forms" of life is simply not true. Further, we don't need to look at a bunch of burried bones to see that, we have a living species (actually three, including the Echindas). What is indisputable is that the monotremes have a stark mixuture of classically mammalian (fur & milk) and reptilian features (laying eggs), as well as transitional features, plus a few unique features of their own.

The difference between dogma and science is the evidience, which the former rejects.

There's a problem with this view. The platypus is not in a lineage from reptiles to mammals. In order to use the platypus as a transistional species you would have to find a series of finely gradated fossils that included the platypus in the lineage from reptiles to mammals.

PS
The difference between dogma and science is not evidence. Both may have a great deal of evidence about a given subject. The difference is that dogma is fixed and science is tenative.