MORE+INFORMATION+ABOUT+MONOTREMES

= = =There are only five living monotreme species: the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidna (also known as spiny anteaters).= =All of them are found only in Australia and New Guinea.= = = =In some ways, monotremes are very primitive for mammals because, like reptiles and [|birds], they lay [|eggs] rather than having live birth.= =In a number of other respects, monotremes are rather derived, having highly modified snouts or beaks, and modern adult monotremes have no teeth.= =Like other [|mammals], they produce milk to nourish the young.=