BD#12 Evolution Of The Platypus

What is the main learning intention of the video?

• To study the habitat of the platypus

• To understand the biological classification of animals

• To analyze how microevolutionary changes drive speciation over time, using the platypus as an example

• To memorize the features of Australian mammals

What was the initial reaction to the discovery of the platypus?

• It was immediately recognized as a mammal

• It was considered a hoax

• It was classified as a reptile

• It was ignored by the scientific community

Which era is known for the age of dinosaurs?

• Mesozoic

• Paleozoic

• Pre-Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

What are some of the unique features of the platypus?

• Wings and hollow bones

• Scales and cold-blooded

• Bill, webbed feet, hair, milk production, and egg laying

• Feathers and beak

During which time period did mammals begin to radiate and diversify significantly?

• After the extinction of dinosaurs

• Before the Mesozoic era

• At the beginning of the Cenozoic era

• During the Paleozoic era

What supercontinent is mentioned in relation to the distribution of ancient mammal fossils?

• Pangaea

• Laurasia

• Gondwana

• Eurasia

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic used to identify early mammals?

• Production of milk

• Presence of feathers

• Egg laying

• Poison glands

What does the presence of bird-like features such as a bill and webbed feet in the platypus suggest?

• Direct ancestry from birds

• Convergent evolution

• A mistake in classification

• That platypuses are actually birds

What is the significance of the early Cretaceous period in the study of platypuses?

• It is when platypuses developed their unique features

• It marks the extinction of the platypus

• It is when the first platypus fossils were found

• It is when platypuses were first known to exist

What does the study of the platypus' evolutionary pathway help scientists understand?

• The migration patterns of early mammals

• The color of ancient platypuses

• The niche and selection pressures that shaped its evolution

• The exact diet of ancient platypuses