Difference between revisions of "Monotreme"
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(what about the related egg-laying mammals that are extinct? Don't tantalize us with words like 'relict') |
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| − | '''Monotremes''' are a small | + | '''Monotremes''' are a small group of [[Australasia]]n mammals, consisting of the duck-billed [[platypus]] and the several [[echidna]]s. |
In addition to their unusual physical conformations, monotremes are remarkable for being the only [[mammal]]s to lay [[egg]]s, and to have [[poison]] glands (spurs on the back legs of the male platypus); these were an unpleasant surprise for several early zoologists. A feature is the absence of well-developed [[mammary glands]], the young platypi and echidnae being nourished by nutritious emissions from their mothers unmodified [[sweat gland]]s. | In addition to their unusual physical conformations, monotremes are remarkable for being the only [[mammal]]s to lay [[egg]]s, and to have [[poison]] glands (spurs on the back legs of the male platypus); these were an unpleasant surprise for several early zoologists. A feature is the absence of well-developed [[mammary glands]], the young platypi and echidnae being nourished by nutritious emissions from their mothers unmodified [[sweat gland]]s. | ||
Revision as of 04:20, January 6, 2008
Monotremes are a small group of Australasian mammals, consisting of the duck-billed platypus and the several echidnas.
In addition to their unusual physical conformations, monotremes are remarkable for being the only mammals to lay eggs, and to have poison glands (spurs on the back legs of the male platypus); these were an unpleasant surprise for several early zoologists. A feature is the absence of well-developed mammary glands, the young platypi and echidnae being nourished by nutritious emissions from their mothers unmodified sweat glands.