Mammals that lay eggs

27februari2008
The platypus and the echidna are very special mammals. They are the only mammals that lay eggs. The platypus and the echidna are also called monotremes. Monotreme is Greek for 'one hole'.
Monotremes have one hole, the cloaca, which is used for excreting dropping, mating and laying eggs.
Monotremes have their origins in Australia only.

The Platypus appears to have the beak of a duck, the body of an otter, and the tail of a beaver. It can grow to half a meter in size and can be found in Australia and Tasmania. It lives in brooks and dog holes in the banks. It lives off fish, worms, mollusks and shrimps. Its beak, which isn’t hard like those of birds, but leathery and flexible, is used to root for food.

The echidna is also a monotreme. Echidnas can grow up to 45 centimeters in size and can survive in several ecosystems. They mainly live off ants and termites. When there is a threat, they dig themselves in, leaving only their prickles out, and bristle up.