monotreme

Everyday

A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young; the platypus and the echidnas are the only living monotremes. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on classification monotremes are a surprise: they are mammals (they have fur and feed babies milk) but lay eggs. They live only in Australia and New Guinea. Phrases: «egg-laying mammals», «the platypus is a monotreme».

Examples

• The platypus is a monotreme, a mammal that lays eggs. tree →
• Echidnas are spiny monotremes. tree →
• Monotremes feed their babies milk but have no nipples; the milk comes through the skin. tree →
• Only five kinds of monotreme are alive today. tree →
• Monotremes live in Australia and New Guinea. tree →
• The baby echidna is called a puggle. tree →

Note

Countable. Said «MON-oh-treem». Other mammal groups: marsupials (pouch, like kangaroos) and placental mammals (like humans). Myth: «all mammals give birth to live young» is false because of monotremes.