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The five living egg-laying mammals are monotremes: one platypus species and four echidna species. They lay soft-shelled eggs, then feed their hatchlings with milk released through mammary-gland pores.
The five living mammals that lay eggs
| Mammal | Scientific name | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Platypus | Ornithorhynchus anatinus | Eastern Australia and Tasmania |
| Short-beaked echidna | Tachyglossus aculeatus | Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea |
| Western long-beaked echidna | Zaglossus bruijnii | Western New Guinea |
| Eastern long-beaked echidna | Zaglossus bartoni | Central and eastern New Guinea |
| Sir David’s long-beaked echidna | Zaglossus attenboroughi | The Cyclops Mountains of Papua, Indonesia |
1. Platypus
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is the only living monotreme in the family Ornithorhynchidae. It lives in eastern Australia and Tasmania.
2. Short-beaked echidna
The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) occurs across Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. A female generally lays one egg at a time. The egg hatches after roughly 10 days, and the young remains in the mother’s pouch while it develops.
3. Western long-beaked echidna
The western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) lives in western New Guinea.
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4. Eastern long-beaked echidna
The eastern long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni) lives in central and eastern New Guinea.
5. Sir David’s long-beaked echidna
Sir David’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi) is found in the Cyclops Mountains of Papua, Indonesia.
How do egg-laying mammals reproduce?
Female monotremes lay soft-shelled eggs rather than giving birth to live young. After hatching, the babies receive milk from mammary-gland pores; monotremes do not have nipples or teats.
The short-beaked echidna generally lays one egg at a time. After roughly 10 days, the egg hatches, and the young stays in its mother’s pouch while it develops.
Are there only two egg-laying mammals?
There are two kinds of living monotreme: the platypus and the echidnas. The echidna group includes four living species, so the total is five. The platypus is the only living member of Ornithorhynchidae; the four echidnas belong to Tachyglossidae.
The five living species are the surviving members of a once more diverse monotreme lineage that also included extinct species known from fossils.
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FAQ
What are the five mammals that lay eggs?
They are the platypus, short-beaked echidna, western long-beaked echidna, eastern long-beaked echidna, and Sir David’s long-beaked echidna.
What is an egg-laying mammal called?
An egg-laying mammal is called a monotreme.
Do egg-laying mammals produce milk?
Yes. Monotremes produce milk from mammary glands. Their babies receive it through mammary-gland pores because they do not have nipples or teats.
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How many eggs does a short-beaked echidna lay?
A short-beaked echidna generally lays one egg at a time. It hatches after roughly 10 days, and the young remains in the mother’s pouch while it develops.
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