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Would a wombat and a platypus be considered rodents?

Question #141750. Asked by endoverend.
Last updated Oct 27 2015.
Originally posted Oct 27 2015 1:18 AM.

Tapestry6
Answer has 2 votes
Tapestry6
10 year member
391 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
link http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/common-wombat/
According to this site they are trying to 'save the wombats'. They are protected by law except in Victoria Australia where they are considered pests because they destroy rabbit proof fences.
Platypus like wombats are on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern. They are found on Australian postage stamps, nothing in the article point to it as a rodent
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus

Oct 27 2015, 6:13 AM
davejacobs
Answer has 3 votes
davejacobs
22 year member
956 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
From the wombat site: " Also known as the course-haired wombat, the common wombat is the largest burrowing mammal and the second largest marsupial averaging 90-115 cm (35-45 in.) in length".
From the platypus site: " duck-billed platypus is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal "
So no, they are both mammals, not rodents.

Oct 27 2015, 6:29 AM
avatar
mctavish99 star
Answer has 11 votes
Currently Best Answer
mctavish99 star
18 year member
518 replies avatar

Answer has 11 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The platypus and wombat are both marsupials. Marsupials and rodents are different branches of the mammal family. Rodents are not marsupials. Marsupials are not rodents.

The two varieties of mammal have many differences, which are outlined in this article

link http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-marsupial-and-vs-rodent/

Oct 27 2015, 7:01 AM
davejacobs
Answer has 2 votes
davejacobs
22 year member
956 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
See the platypus reference again. The platypus is NOT a marsupial. It is a monotreme. It is an egg-laying mammal

Oct 27 2015, 3:40 PM
avatar
mctavish99 star
Answer has 8 votes
mctavish99 star
18 year member
518 replies avatar

Answer has 8 votes.
Platypus is indeed a monotreme, not a marsupial (I had a brain fade.) Marsupials, monotremes and rodents are three different branches of the mammal family.

From the articled I referenced

"Modern mammals are categorized into three major groups; Monetremes, Marsupials, and Placental mammals. Monotremes are the egg-laying mammals, which includes the duck-billed platypus and two species of echidna. Marsupials are also called pouched mammals. Placental mammals use a placenta to nourish their embryos throughout their entire development in the uterus. There are 17 orders of placental mammals. All the rodents are placental mammals and placed in the Order Rodentia."

Oct 27 2015, 8:59 PM
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