What caused the platypus to evolve?

Warren led a 2010 study that found 83 toxins in platypus venom, which contains genes that resemble the venom genes of other animals, including snakes, starfish, and spiders. It's likely an example of convergent evolution, in which unrelated species evolve similar traits. read more

The platypus does not appear to be in immediate danger of extinction, because conservation measures have been successful, but it could be affected by habitat disruption caused by dams, irrigation, pollution, netting, and trapping. read more

There are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the evolution of the platypus, what we know is: Platypus - Wikipedia. The platypus and other monotremes were very poorly understood, and some of the 19th century myths that grew up around them—for example, that the monotremes were"inferior" or quasireptilian —still endure. read more

The platypus' genes are a possible evolutionary link between the mammalian XY and bird/reptile ZW sex-determination systems because one of the platypus' five X chromosomes contains the DMRT1 gene, which birds possess on their Z chromosome. read more