Question
Here is the question : WHAT ARE THE ONLY TWO MAMMALS TO LAY EGGS?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Dolphin and otter
- Tortoise and turtle
- Squirrel and possum
- Echidna and duck-billed platypus
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
There are no other egg-laying mammals on the earth outside monotremes, which include duck-billed platypuses and echidnas. Both species can be found in their natural habitat in Australia and New Guinea. Scientific evidence suggests that platypuses and echidnas diverged from each other 19 to 48 million years ago, indicating that echidnas used to be semiaquatic like platypuses. Researchers believe that monotremes were able to avoid extinction at the hands of marsupials because they laid their eggs in water rather than on land.
The animal kingdom is full of fascinating creatures with unique and unusual adaptations. Among these, the echidna and duck-billed platypus stand out as the only two mammals that lay eggs, a characteristic known as oviparity.
Echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, are small, spiny mammals that are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are characterized by their long, pointed snouts and their ability to burrow into the ground. Echidnas lay a single egg, which is incubated in a pouch on the mother’s belly until it hatches.
Duck-billed platypuses, on the other hand, are aquatic mammals that are also native to Australia. They are characterized by their flat, duck-like bills and their webbed feet. Platypuses lay between one and three eggs, which are incubated in a burrow dug into the riverbank until they hatch.
The ability to lay eggs sets these two mammals apart from other mammals, which give birth to live young. This adaptation is thought to have evolved as a way to cope with the unique environments in which these animals live.
echidnas and platypuses are important and beloved members of the animal kingdom. They are valued for their unique and fascinating characteristics, and are a reminder of the incredible diversity and adaptability of nature.
the echidna and duck-billed platypus are two of the most fascinating and unusual mammals in the world. Their ability to lay eggs sets them apart from other mammals, and is a testament to the incredible diversity and adaptability of life on Earth.