DIVERSITY OF MAMMALS

Monotremes

MONOTREMES Monotremes are special mammals which

share characteristics with reptiles Monotremes lay soft-shelled eggs which

hatch 10 days after they are laid and are incubated by their mother

Monotremes also have an organ called the Cloaca unlike any other animal besides reptiles

Monotreme means “single opening”

ECHIDNAS Echidnas are

spiny anteaters which live in New Guinea and Australia

Only two species exist in the world. They have a short beak in Australia and a long beak in New Guinea

PLATYPUS The Platypus is

one of the few poisonous mammals on Earth

They are aquatic and live mainly on insects and mollusks that they dig up underwater with their snout

MONOTREMES IN POPULAR MEDIA- KNUCKLES IS AN ECHIDNA