What on earth is a platypus? Even its name seems strange. When Europeans first heard the startling news of a newly discovered creature called the “platypus,” most of them thought it was just a joke.

The platypus is one of the most unique animals in the world. It’s a mammal, but it lays eggs. It has webbed feet, a beaver-like tail, and an otter-like snout and bill that helps it locate food ...

Most humans probably think very little of the platypus — if at all. But this strange Australian mammal, with its webbed feet and beaver-like tail, is actually a treasure trove of genetic information.