How can mammals lay eggs

The duck-billed platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus is an egg-laying semiaquatic mammal native to Tasmania and the neighboring areas of eastern Australia. The female platypus digs a hole in the ground and lays her eggs.

Most of these animals are found close to aquatic environments, and as soon as the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are introduced to the water where they feed on insects, larvae, and small organisms.

The male platypus assumes the role of protecting the female and the newborn by releasing a powerful toxin capable of killing a human when threatened. There are four species of echidna.

They belong to the Tachyglossidae family of the class Monotremata. These animals are characterized by a spiny coat, rudimentary tail, clawed feet, toothless jaws, short legs, and a long and sticky tongue. Ready to pretend to be a platypus? Are you part duck?

Part beaver? Part otter? Part snake? Maybe you're all of these things wrapped into one because you have superpowers that make you more special than all those other animals combined! What special powers do you get from each animal? What amazing things can you do that no other animal can do? Did you get it? Test your knowledge. Wonder Words mammal elaborate spurs awkwardly nocturnal monotremes aquatic echidna venom Take the Wonder Word Challenge.

Join the Discussion. Dec 4, Are you referring to the platypus in the photograph? He does look like he could be sleeping! Antonia Verest Jul 23, Australia is comprised of 6 states and 2 territories. One of the states is the island of Tasmania. Therefore, it is incorrect to talk of "Australia and Tasmania".

In my state Queensland you will often find echidnas curled up in a log. Jul 25, Antonia Verest Jul 26, Jul 27, We have made the change! Thanks again for teaching us something new!

Mason D Apr 22, Apr 25, God is just to wonderful. Cool Giral Dec 3, Oct 16, Wonderopolis Feb 19, Hi, student! Wonderopolis Feb 25, Wonderopolis Sep 7, Alex Jun 27, Wonderopolis Jun 27, Eliz Jun 21, Mammals that lay eggs that are only found in Australia are called marsupials. You should mention that in the wonder words and info. Wonderopolis Jun 22, Wonderopolis Jun 20, Great job guessing today's Wonder topic, Rahul! We're proud of you! TJ Jun 20, I wish you would let me keep it in I do not understand!

Jordan Jun 19, Wonderopolis Jun 19, We look at it everyday it is just awesome. We just learned about the hints and we really like that too. Are there any other wonderful things about Wonderopolis? I'm from Susan G's class. I really liked this. Its cool how platypuses have kinda fish-like front feet.

By the way, I'm in grade 3, 8 years old. Did you know that Sharks are fish and they give birth? Also, some special kinds of snakes give birth instead of laying eggs. Well, I think Platypuses are great animals.

Are they endangered? How long can they stay underwater? How big is a platypus? Stella and Ruby Jun 19, We like the playtypus' webbed feet.

Birds are in fact the only class of vertebrates that reproduce solely by laying eggs. Platypuses are certainly funny looking, with duck-like bills, tails like a beaver and webbed feet. Their legs come out on the sides like a reptile rather than from underneath. Nocturnal and semi-aquatic, platypuses inhabit small rivers and streams. They swim by rowing with their front legs and steering with their back legs and tail. Using bills that are very sensitive to changes in electrical fields, they hunt underwater for worms, insects and freshwater shrimp.

New research suggests these two kinds of creatures managed to survive because their ancestors took to the water. Before making their way to Australia, the marsupials had migrated from Asia to the Americas to Antarctica. Phillips and his colleagues suggest that platypuses and echidnas made it through the marsupial invasion because their ancestors sought refuge where marsupials could not follow—the water.

When marsupials are born, they need to constantly suckle milk for weeks, and as such, newborns could drown if their mothers ever had to swim for long. The theory seems plausible for platypuses, which are amphibious creatures.

Echidnas, however, dwell solely on land. The investigators used genetics to come up with an answer.