What is a monotreme?

A monotreme is a mammal: a placental mammal and a marsupial mammal.

A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs. The female monotreme lays the eggs. The female monotreme also a pouch to carry her young.

There a five species of monotremes – the Platypus and four species of Echidnas (the Short-Beaked Echidna, Western Long-Beaked Echidna, Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna, and Sir David’s Long-Beaked Echidna).

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM