Question

Which one of the following is an egg-laying mammal?
A) Pangolin
B) Tachyglossus
C) Porcupine
D) Bat

Answer 1

Hint: Most of the animals belonging to class Mammalia are viviparous, that is it gives birth to the younger ones. A very few of its members are oviparous or egg-laying in nature.

Complete answer:
Among mammals, a group of species known as Monotremes, under the class Mammalia, belong to a subclass known as Holotheria. In the subclass, the species such as Tachyglossus, commonly known as the spiny anteaters are Oviparous or are egg-laying. These animals are also known as Echidnas.

Considering the other given options:
-Pangolin is commonly known as scaly anteaters. These animals reproduce by giving birth to young ones. Usually, one offspring is produced after a single period of gestation. Hence the option is not right.
-Porcupines are animals that belong to the family of large-sized rodents. They are also viviparous animals, which give birth to young ones. Hence the option is not right.
-Bat is a mammal, which is capable of flying. They do not lay eggs, and like the majority of the other mammals, they give birth to the young ones. Hence it is not the right option.
-Therefore from the above-given options, the most appropriate and correct answer is B. That is the egg-laying mammal among the given options is Tachyglossus.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Another group of animals belonging to class Mammalia and are capable of reproduction through laying eggs includes the duck-billed platypus. These animals survive in semi-aquatic habitats. Unlike the other mammals, in Platypus, the milk to nourish the young ones is not produced by the mammary gland and is secreted through the skin.