Flexi Says: Playtpus are mammals that lay eggs, have a duck-like bill, and fight with poisonous barbs. That's a lot of material for a comedian to work with! For scientists, the platypus represents a bit more than foil for a comedic schtick. They represent an opportunity to observe an adaptive path that most mammals did not take, and as such represent a valuable comparison point for theories about how mammals developed into large organisms that dominate the planet in many ways. They are also members of the smallest mammalian order (Monotremata) which has only 5 species and 3 genera, the platypus and 4 species of Echidna in two genera.
