It was filmmaker Kevin Smith, in his better years, who wrote “Even God has a sense of humor. Look at the Platypus.” The duck billed Platypus at first glance may look like to be on the receiving end of an evil bio-engineer’s idea of a joke. It’s head looks like a duck, its body and tail a beaver, while having its lethal set of claws attached to its webbed feet which contain a snake-like venom. Oh, yeah and all the other mammals in the animal kingdom always make fun of it because it’s the only mammal who lays eggs.

However, recently scientists have developed a genetic map explaining how the Platypus ended up which ever way it did. They say that the millennial prank was instigated by none other than Mother Nature herself (Gasp!) through a process called (get ready) evolution.

Over a hundred scientists from all over the globe have been studying the Platypus in mapping the genome from a multitude of DNA samples from a female named Glennie (they just really had to add insult to injury). During the course of their studies, the scientists have found that the “genome, just like the animal, is an amazing amalgam of reptilian and mammal characteristics with quite a few unique platypus characteristics as well.” Apparently, the only thing that makes it a mammal is the fact that it has fur, and feeds its young with milk. Other than that, they don’t know what the hell it is.

However, with their research, scientists have also uncovered some more interesting results regarding evolution. It seems that Platypus’ and humans may have both passed through being reptiles in the evolutionary process. We pretty much kept the same path as the Platypus until we branched off some 165 million years ago. With these new findings, scientists are one step closer in closing the gaps about the evolution of mammals which have puzzled them for years.

On a side note, unfortunately there is still no development as to why ugly people still haven’t branched off the evolutionary path. Only a theory exists regarding heavy alcohol consumption and bad lighting. –just kidding.