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'Monotremes'
Subclass Prototheria
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Monotremes occur only in Australia
and New Guinea.
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There are only three species; two types of echidna, and the
platypus.
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The oldest remains of a monotreme have been found in South America, so
historically they have occurred, and perhaps even evolved, outside of the
Australasian region (Strahan 1995).
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Both types of monotremes generally feed on invertebrate, of which they can detect their electromagnetic impulses with
sensitive bills.
- Both the echidnas and the
platypus lack real, developed teeth, and instead have horny pads in between
which hey grind their food.
- The males of monotremes develop spurs on the back
leg, and in the platypus this becomes quite venomous in the breeding season.
- Monotremes are most distinguished from the other mammals by the fact that they
lay eggs.
- Young are poorly developed after hatching and at a certain age left
behind in the burrow (Strahan 1995).
- These young monotremes are called
'puggles'.
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
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