Question

Name the mammal that lays eggs.
A) Duck-billed platypus
B) Crocodile
C) Birds
D) None of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: They find their food by feel or by detecting the electrical signals. Their reproduction is very unique. They are the semi-aquatic, small, shy, egg-laying mammals that are found in the Eastern Australia.

Complete Answer:
- Mammals that lay eggs are called monotremes. There are only two kinds of egg-laying mammals which includes duck-billed platypus and echidna or spiny-anteater. They are both found in Australia.
- They are having sharp spines that cover their body. Like other mammals they have three middle ear bones, single bone with lower jaw, high metabolic rate and they also produce milk to nourish their babies.
- Monotremes eggs generally hatch between 10-15 days. Duck-billed platypus are venomous in nature. They have spur which transfer venom that is capable of causing severe pain in the human body.
- They have a very characteristic feature that they sense prey through electrolocation which means through electrical signals.

Thus, the correct answer is option A i.e., Duck-billed platypus.

Additional information:
Crocodile comes under the class Reptilia because of the reason they have hard, bony scales and plates on their body. Birds are not mammals. They are the members of Aves. They have feathers, toothless beak, 4 chambered hearts.

Note: Monotremes belong to the phylum Chordata and come under the subclass Prototheria. They have a very high metabolic rate, producing milk. Platypus was first found in Europe in 1798. There are 2 mammals that lay eggs i.e. duck-billed platypus, echidna.