Final answer:
The platypus was thought to be a hoax due to its unique combination of bird-like, mammalian, and reptilian features that made it appear as if it were a fabricated creature. The correct answer is (D) because it has a unique appearance and characteristics. The platypus is an example of an endemic species that has evolved in isolated conditions in Eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some people initially thought the platypus was a hoax due to its unique appearance and characteristics. When the platypus was first encountered by Europeans, its duck-like bill, beaver-like tail, and otter-like feet were so unusual that many believed the animal to be a fake, stitched together from various animals as a joke. This skepticism arose because the platypus combines features typically associated with birds, like the bill, mammals, such as fur and lactation, and reptiles, evident in laying eggs, which made it look like a creature straight out of a myth or a hoax. Option (D) 'Because it had a unique appearance and characteristics' is the correct answer to why some people thought the platypus was a hoax.
The platypus is an aquatic mammal that lives in running water habitats, such as rivers and streams in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. While watching a platypus swim in its natural habitat, one can see how it utilizes its limbs and tail to maneuver through the water, highlighting its distinctive adaptations.
Endemic species, like the platypus, are often found in geographically isolated areas. This isolation enables species to develop and retain unique characteristics over time because they are separated from other species, as opposed to areas with more fluid species distribution where more common characteristics may dominate due to broader genetic mixing and competition.