Obdurodon fossil map
Where fossils of Obdurodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 30 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 33.9–11.63 million years ago (Rupelian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Ornithorhynchidae |
| Named by | Woodburne and Tedford 1975 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 7 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Australia |
| Rock formations | Namba, txn:39738, Etadunna, Ettadunna |
About Obdurodon
Obdurodon is a genus of extinct platypus-like Australian monotreme which lived from the Late Oligocene to the Late Miocene. Three species have been described in the genus, the type species Obdurodon insignis, plus Obdurodon dicksoni and Obdurodon tharalkooschild. Obdurodon appeared much like their modern day relative the platypus, except adults retained their molar teeth, and unlike the platypus, which forages on the lakebed, they may have foraged in the water column or surface.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Obdurodon (revision 1378585443), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q133044.
