Definition

1. Noun:
   • A genus of monotreme mammals: "Ornithorhynchus" is the scientific name for the genus that contains the single living species known as the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It is a type of egg-laying mammal found in eastern Australia and Tasmania.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The ornithorhynchus is one of the few extant monotreme species.
  • Scientists study the unique electroreception system of the ornithorhynchus.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic context: Used specifically in biological and zoological classifications.
  • The family Ornithorhynchidae contains only the genus Ornithorhynchus.

Variants and Related Words

• Platypus (n): The common name for the animal classified as .
  • The platypus is a semiaquatic mammal.
• Monotreme (n): The broader order of egg-laying mammals to which the ornithorhynchus belongs.
  • Echidnas and the platypus are monotremes.

Synonyms

• Duck-billed platypus: A common descriptive synonym.
• Platypus: The standard common name.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "ornithorhynchus" is almost exclusively used in formal, scientific contexts. In everyday language, the animal is universally called a "platypus." The term itself is derived from Greek roots meaning "bird snout," referring to the creature's distinctive bill.

Noun

1. type genus of the family Ornithorhynchidae