What is the habitat of monotremes?

Modern monotremes, and all but one of the fossil species so far described, are confined to the continent of Australia and the island of New Guinea. The short-beaked echidna is the most common and widespread of the three living species. It occurs throughout Australia and Tasmania and in central and southern New Guinea.

Where do platypuses live?

eastern Australia
Platypus are found in eastern Australia from the steamy tropics of far north Queensland to the freezing snows of Tasmania. In Queensland, platypus live in rivers east of the Great Dividing Range, and are also found in some western-flowing streams.

Where are monotremes and marsupials found?

The marsupials (Metatheria) and monotremes (Monotremata) are an extremely diverse group that includes approximately 340 species across 25 families. These inhabit an extraordinarily wide range of habitats in the Americas, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

Where do monotremes lay their eggs?

Eggs and Lactation in Monotremes Monotreme eggs have a leathery shell, like the eggs of reptiles. The eggs are retained inside the mother’s body for at least a couple of weeks. During that time, the mother provides the eggs with nutrients. Platypus females lay their eggs in a burrow.

What are the 3 monotremes?

The echidna and the duck-billed platypus, which are the only egg-laying mammals, are so distinct that they are assigned to a discrete subclass, the Prototheria, which includes the order Monotremata, separate from the more familiar and well-studied placental mammals.

Is platypus a monotreme?

The monotremes are a group of highly specialised egg-laying predatory mammals, containing the platypus and echidnas. There are only five living species of monotreme, contained within two families: Family Ornithorhynchidae: the platypus, a single species in a single genus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus.