What are monotremes 3 examples?

monotreme, (order Monotremata), any member of the egg-laying mammalian order Monotremata, which includes the amphibious platypus (family Ornithorhynchidae) and the terrestrial echidnas (family Tachyglossidae) of continental Australia, the Australian island state of Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea.

Which are common characteristics between monotreme mammals like the platypus and reptiles?

Despite sharing some reptilian features, monotremes possess all the major mammalian characteristics: air breathing, endothermy (i.e., they are warm-blooded), mammary glands, a furred body, a single bone in the lower jaw, and three bones in the middle ear.

What are some examples of monotremes?

Monotreme/Lower classifications

What is unusual about monotremes?

The most striking difference from other mammals is that monotremes lay eggs. Similar to other mammals, they do lactate (produce milk). But instead of having nipples like other mammals, monotremes secrete milk through mammary gland openings in the skin. Monotremes are long-lived mammals.

Are monotremes warm-blooded?

Mammals are divided into three groups – monotremes, marsupials and placentals, all of which have fur, produce milk and are warm-blooded. The Platypus and echidnas are monotremes and the females lay soft-shelled eggs.

Do monotremes have teeth?

In a number of other respects, monotremes are rather derived, having highly modified snouts or beaks, and modern adult monotremes have no teeth. Like other mammals, however, monotremes have a single bone in their lower jaw, three inner ear bones, high metabolic rates, hair, and they produce milk to nourish the young.

Are monotremes cold blooded?

Mammals that lay eggs are called monotremes and include platypuses and echidnas, both of which live in Australia. Like all mammals, monotremes are warm-blooded, covered with fur and nurse their young.

Do monotremes have nipples?

But one branch of mammals doesn’t suckle: the egg-laying monotremes, which include today’s platypus and echidna, or spiny anteater. These animals lack nipples. Their babies instead lap or slurp milk from patches on their mother’s skin.

Which of these is a unique characteristic of mammals?

Mammals belong to the class Mammalia under phylum Chordata of kingdom Animalia. Some of the unique features of mammals are; The presence of mammary glands. Presence of hairs on the skin.

How are monotremes similar to reptiles?

The word “monotreme” literally means “one opening,” which is a characteristic feature: similar to birds and reptiles, they have the same opening for fecal matter, urine, and reproduction, called a cloaca. Also like birds and reptiles, monotremes lay eggs, although their eggs are uniquely rubbery and rather small.

What is the difference between a reptile and a monotreme?

However, unlike reptiles, female monotremes retain their eggs for some time (typically for two or three weeks) and actively provide the eggs with nutrients. Female platypuses lay their eggs in burrows. Echidna females have a pouch in which they store their eggs and later nurse their young.

How do monotremes differ from reptiles?

How do monotremes differ from reptiles? They are nourished by their mothers milk.

Are monotremes related to reptiles?

Although these animals are often referred to as primitive or ancestral, they are not the ancestors of all mammals. Instead, monotremes formed a very early radiation of mammals that originally evolved from early synapsids, which are considered to have been reptile-like mammals (Figure 1).

How do monotremes breathe?

When breathing in and out, they use their muscular diaphragm (a muscle between their chest and abdomen) as well as the muscles between their ribs. These muscles are strong enough to push air in and out, even when they are buried under the top layer of soil and leaf litter.

Are monotremes cold blooded?

Mammals that lay eggs are called monotremes and include platypuses and echidnas, both of which live in Australia. Like all mammals, monotremes are warm-blooded, covered with fur and nurse their young.