Question

Echidna and platypus lay eggs. But why are they considered as mammals?

Answer 1

Like mammals , monotremes are warm blooded animals whose body is covered with fur . They also nourish their young . Echidna and platypus belong to the order monotremata of mammalia . These are only egg laying mammals . The echidna is found in Australia along with platypus lay eggs and produce milk for its young one .

Answer 2

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Platypus also known as the Duck Billed Platypus is a mammal that lay eggs. It has a bill like a bird and can deliver venom like a reptile. The genetic analysis revealed that the platypus has milk protein genes similar to other mammals that produce milk for their offspring even though it lays eggs.

Echidnas, sometimes known as the ‘Spiny Anteaters’ are also egg-laying mammals. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites. They evolved around 20 to 50 million years ago and they have both the properties of mammals and reptiles, like Platypus.