Monotreme

Monotremes
Temporal range: Lower Cretaceous – Recent
Short-beaked echidna
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
(unranked):
Order:
Monotremata

Families

Kollikodontidae
Ornithorhynchidae
Tachyglossidae
Steropodontidae

The Platypus, the most well known monotreme.

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

The word 'monotreme' refers to their common rear opening, the cloaca. In amphibia, reptiles, birds and probably all early tetrapods, there is a common opening for urine, reproduction and faeces.


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