What are the special characteristics of the monotremes?

In a number of other respects, monotremes are rather derived, having highly modified snouts or beaks, and modern adult monotremes have no teeth. Like other mammals, however, monotremes have a single bone in their lower jaw, three middle ear bones, high metabolic rates, hair, and they produce milk to nourish the young.

Do monotremes have 4 chambered hearts?

Monotremes. Even the most primitive recent mammals – the monotremes – have a fully divided four-chamber heart.

What are the major features of the monotremes and marsupials?

Both monotremes and marsupials are warm-blooded animals. Both monotremes and marsupials have mammary glands. Both monotremes and marsupials have different types of pouches. Both monotremes and marsupials have hair surrounding their body.

Do all monotremes have fur?

Monotremes have several important mammalian characters, however, including fur (but they lack vibrissae), a four chambered heart, a single dentary bone, three middle ear bones, and the ability to lactate.

Do all monotremes have teeth?

In a number of other respects, monotremes are rather derived, having highly modified snouts or beaks, and modern adult monotremes have no teeth. Like other mammals, however, monotremes have a single bone in their lower jaw, three inner ear bones, high metabolic rates, hair, and they produce milk to nourish the young.

Which are common characteristics between monotreme mammals like the platypus and reptiles?

Despite sharing some reptilian features, monotremes possess all the major mammalian characteristics: air breathing, endothermy (i.e., they are warm-blooded), mammary glands, a furred body, a single bone in the lower jaw, and three bones in the middle ear.

What are the differences between mammals and monotremes marsupials?

Mammals can be divided into three more groups based on how their babies develop. These three groups are monotremes, marsupials, and the largest group, placental mammals. Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs. The only monotremes that are alive today are the spiny anteater, or echidna, and the platypus.

What characteristics do monotremes share with reptiles?

The word “monotreme” literally means “one opening,” which is a characteristic feature: similar to birds and reptiles, they have the same opening for fecal matter, urine, and reproduction, called a cloaca. Also like birds and reptiles, monotremes lay eggs, although their eggs are uniquely rubbery and rather small.