Definition of monotreme Monotreme

mon•o•treme

We found 6 definitions of monotreme from 5 different sources.

What does monotreme mean?

Noun Plural: monotremes
monotreme - the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria
		egg-laying mammal
		prototherian primitive oviparous mammals found only in Australia and Tasmania and New Guinea
		echidna, spiny anteater, anteater a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia
		echidna, spiny anteater, anteater a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia

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monotreme (Noun)
A mammal that lays eggs and has a single urogenital and digestive orifice. Only the echidnas and platypuses are included in this group.
monotreme (Adjective)
Having a single trema, or aperture.

Monotremes are a group of mammals that form the order Monotremata. Monotremes are the only mammals that lay eggs, but they still feed their babies with milk.

There are two surviving families of monotremes, with five living species. They all live in Australia and New Guinea. People commonly know them as the platypus and the spiny anteaters. There is only one platypus that exists now, the duck-billed platypus. The four others are the spiny anteaters, or the echidna.