Believed to originate some 200 million years ago, these furry mammals retain certain reptilian skeletal features. Monotremes are a unique order of mammals that includes only three extant species: the duck-billed platypus (Ornithorynchus anitinus), the short-billed echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), and the western long-billed echidna (Zaglossus bruijni).Like other mammals, monotremes possess a segmented jaw, have three bones that comprise the middle ear, are warm blooded, and lactate. Sensitive electroreceptors are located in the skin of the platypus's bill. PLATYPUS (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) (plural: platypuses) The echidna and the platypus are the only two existing monotremes (egg-laying mammals) in the world. Similar electroreceptors are also present in echidnas, which, together with the platypus, make up the mammalian order Monotremata, a unique group with an exceptionally ancient history. Monotremes are a group of five extant mammals that lay eggs and have highly specialized mouth parts. Additional traits linking these animals to birds are listed on a separate page of this website which discusses the possibility of bird-mammal hybrids. Monotremes have structural differences in the their digestive tract, jaws and brain. The following is a list of traits linking monotremes with birds. The platypus shows similar characteristics with the other members of monotremes. All of them are found only in Australia and New Guinea. Monotremes member are viviparous. Fossil discovery and analysis show a slow form of evolution in monotremes compared to other mammals. Aquatically adapted platypus-like monotremes probably evolved from a more-generalized terrestrial monotreme. platypus Platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) eating a worm underwater. As well as the platypus, there is the long-beaked echidna and the short-beaked echidna. Living monotremes include the platypus and echidnas. This evidence is backed by a jaw-bone of platypus … Monotremes are divided into two broad categories. That is dark billed flat-footed platypus and spiny anteater called echidnas. Monotremes have scaly skin; other mammals have fur Monotremes must obtain food to feed their young other mammals produce milk to feed offspring Monotremes lay eggs: other mammals bear live young Monotremes are not a very diverse group today, and there has not been much fossil information known until rather recently. EGGS Monotremes incubate and hatch eggs outside the body (like birds). In what way are monotreme mammals (platypus and echidna) similar to more ancestral amniote lineages, as opposed to more recently evolved mammals? Of all monotremes, the platypus has the most sensitive level of electroreception. Waddling, wriggling, ambling, digging, laying eggs. The platypus is a monotreme, not a marsupial and there are just 2 species of monotreme mammals. There’s no shortage of verbiage when it comes to describing monotremata—the taxonomic order made up of only two animals, the platypus … 'Platys' is Greek for 'flat or broad' and 'pous' means 'foot'. The platypus is also one of the few mammals to produce venom. It is a monotreme - 'mono' meaning 'one hole', the cloaca, which is used for the elimination of wastes and also for reproduction. The first occurrence in the fossil record of a platypus-like monotreme is from about 110 million years ago, in the early Cretaceous Period , when Australia was … There are only five living monotreme species: the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidna (also known as spiny anteaters). Monotremes are the only mammals known to possess electroreception, a sense that enables them to locate prey by the electric fields generated by its muscle contraction. The platypus is one of Australia's most iconic symbols. 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