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What characteristic of the platypus and echidna is very unusual among animals?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
They are egg-laying mammals.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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Why are the platypus and echidna unusual mammals?
The platypus and echidna are unusual mammals because they are the world's only known monotremes, i.e. egg-laying mammals. Though egg-layers, they are classified as mammals because the young suckle mothers' milk.
Why are the platypus and echidna unusual?
The platypus and echidna are unusual because they are the world's only known monotremes, which means they are egg-laying mammals. Though egg-layers, they are classified as mammals because the young suckle mothers' milk.
Why is the echidna unusual among mammals in the way its baby is produced?
The echidna, like the platypus, is unusual because it lays eggs, rather than producing live young.
What is an unusual monotreme?
Both types of monotremes - the platypus and the echidna - are unusual, but perhaps the platypus is considered the most unusual of all. The platypus has a bill equipped with electroreceptors which it uses to find its food. It must live on land but find its food in the water. It has retractable webbing on its feet so that it can still use its sharp claws to dig.
What animals were mascots for the Sydney Olympics?
There were three animal mascots for the Sydney Olympics: Platypus - named "Syd" for the host city for the Games. Echidna - called "Millie" from "Millennium" (year 2000) Kookaburra - named "Olly" from "Olympics" All three are animals found in Australia (the Echidna and Kookaburra are also found in New Guinea). The Platypus and Echidna are both unusual for being monotremes: egg-laying mammals. Kookaburras are carnivorous birds well-known for their calls, which can sound like human laughter.
What unusual creatures live in Australia?
Many people regard the echidna and the platypus as unusual because they are egg-laying mammals, or 'monotremes'. The many species of kangaroos are also regarded as unusual. One of the least known jnusual Australian animals is the marsupial mole, while a cometelu sort of creature, the Leafy Sea-dragon, is also extremely unusual. Other species native to Australia, and hence sometimes regarded as 'unusual' by the rest of the world are animals such as wombats, koalas, phascogales, lyrebirds, Tasmanian devils and bilbies, just to name a few.
What is a unusual looking animal?
Marsupials are very unusual. Platypus too.
Why is a platypus thought to be a bird?
The platypus is not thought to be a bird. It is known to be a mammal. It shares all mammalian characteristics except for the fact that it does not give live birth.It is unusual for being an egg-laying mammal, in the group of animals known as monotremes. It is also considered unusual for its bill, which is actually quite different in size, shape and function to a duck's bill (the term "duck-billed platypus is a misnomer).
What unusual markings does the platypus have?
The platypus has no unique or unusual markings. A platypus has dark brown fur over most of its body, with a grey undercoat. Its belly is gold-coloured or silky grey. Its feet are dark brown to black, and its bill is a slate grey colour.
What is unusual about a platypus?
To some, platypuses may be considered to be unusual because they are unique to Australia and one of only two types of mammals to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. (The other type is the echidna.) The platypus's appearance is also unusual - it has a flat, broad bill; a sleek and streamlined body; a short, thick tail; the male has a venomous spur, and its feet have retractable webbing. It uses its sensitive bill which is equipped with electroreceptors to find food underwater.
What are common characteristics of a platypus?
The platypus and the echidna both belong to the group of animals known as monotremes. The platypus and two species of echidna are the only creatures in this classification, which is characterised by the feature of being egg-laying mammals, yet they are not birds or reptiles. This means that both creatures hatch their young from eggs (which, incidentally, the echidna incubates in a pouch, but the platypus does not), yet the mother of each species feeds her babies with milk from milk glands - not from teats like placental mammals and marsupials do.One of the characteristics of a platypus is that it has an unusual duck-like bill, and as such, does not have teeth - an unusual characteristic for a mammal. Instead it uses grinding plates to crush its food. The echidna, also known as the spiny ant-eater, also does not have teeth. Instead it has a long, sticky tongue which it uses to catch and eat termites and ants.Echidna and platypus young stay in a burrow after they are hatched. However, the echidna develops a rudimentary pouch during breeding season, into which it lays and incubates its young. The platypus does not have a pouch.Both creatures have sharp claws for burrowing. The echidna can quickly burrow into the ground to escape predators, while the platypus uses its claws to dig out a burrow in the riverbank.Surprisingly, both the platypus and echidna like the water. Not so surprisingly for the platypus, as it must hunt in the water for its food. Regarding the echidna - though its body shape would seem to be awkward for swimming, the echidna actually enjoys water when it can find it, and it is believed the echidna regulates its temperature through swimming.In broad classification terms these two animals are considered to be cousins, but their genetic and physical characteristics differ significantly more than the genetic and physical characteristics of human cousins.For pictures and more information, See 'Related links' below:
What kind of creature does the echidna come from?
The echidna does not come from any other creature. It is simply a member of an unusual egg-laying infraclass of mammals known as monotremes.
