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Originally posted by Anchoress:
... other names considered by scientists include Marsdenalveus stalki and Frumcoulterus ranti...

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More on topic: it is interesting that so few venomous mammals survived to the present day. And that this fossil dates to 60 million years ago, 5 million years after the great extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs.

[ 23 June 2005: Message edited by: Albireo ]

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Frumcoulterus ranti

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Oh well...

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Is the platypus a mammal? Because I know for a fact that it is poisonous.

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Originally posted by Anchoress:

The name of the creature is Bisonalveus browni, but other names considered by scientists include Marsdenalveus stalki and Frumcoulterus ranti, both rejected because it would set a dangerous precedent to name one extinct animal after another.

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That reminds me of what came to mind when I learned that there's a genus of bass called Morone. I figured that in the unlikely case that I end up describing a new species in that genus, I'd call it Morone gwbushi.

And yes, the Duckbill Platypus is venomous, but it doesn't have poisonous fangs. Instead it's got venomous spurs on its legs (not strong enough to be lethal to humans though).

[ 24 June 2005: Message edited by: Agent 204 ]