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Taxonomic Classification:. Monotremes belong to the Subclass Prototheria, meaning egg laying mammals. The order is Monotremata They are split into two families, Ornithorhynchidae meaning platypus, and Tachyglossidae meaning echidnas.
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Taxonomic Classification: • Monotremes belong to the Subclass Prototheria, meaning egg laying mammals. • The order is Monotremata • They are split into two families, Ornithorhynchidae meaning platypus, and Tachyglossidae meaning echidnas. • There are also two genus forms of the Tachyglossidae family, Tachyglossus aculeatus meaning short-beaked echidnas and Zaglossus referring to the long-beaked echidnas.
How Monotremes are different from other mammals: • a complex pectoral girdle • laying of eggs rather than giving birth to live young • limbs oriented with humerus and femur held lateral to their body • and a cloaca
How Monotremes are similar to other mammals: • they have fur • four chambered heart • single dentary bone • three middle ear bones • and the ability to lactate
Duck-billed PlatypusOrnithorhynchusanatinus • The bill of the platypus is ultra sensitive for finding prey when digging underwater. • The young platypuses have molar teeth, when they are adults they form horny plates on each side of their jaws for crushing and chopping their prey. • Male platypuses have a sharp spur attached to each ankle, which are used for fighting.
The Order Didelphimorphia • These are the opossums • They are marsupials • They are in one family, however there are over 60 species • Most live in Central and South America • The opossum that we know belongs to the species Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum), which covers most of the U.S.
Common Characteristics of Opossums: • Well developed teeth with large canines • They have a partially opposable toe on their hind feet. • They have a prehensile tail that is usually long and scaly.
Sources: • http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html