Monotreme

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The Platypus, the most well known monotreme.

A Short-beaked Echidna.

Monotremes are a group of mammals that form the order Monotremata. Monotremes are the only mammals that lay eggs, but they still feed their babies with milk.

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
    • Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
  • Family Tachyglossidae (Echidnas)
    • Genus Tachyglossus
      • Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
    • 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

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Monotremata

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