Monotreme

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Platypus, the most well known monotreme.
The Platypus, the most well known monotreme.
A Short-beaked Echidna.
A Short-beaked Echidna.

Monotremes are a group of mammals (animals that feed their babies with milk) that form the order Monotremata. Monotremes are the only mammals that lay eggs.

There are two surviving families of monotremes, with five living species. They all live in Australia and New Guinea.

[edit] Taxonomy

  • Order Monotremata
    • Family Ornithorhynchidae
    • Family Tachyglossidae (Echidnas)
      • Genus Tachyglossus
      • Genus Zaglossus (Long-beaked Echidnas)
        • Western Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bruijni)
        • Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)
        • Eastern Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus bartoni)


Look up Monotremata in Wikispecies, a directory of species


Wikimedia Commons has media related to: