Stumble this page!| Images are copyrighted by their owners |
|
Monotremes
Order : Monotremata
The order of monotremes (Monotremata) consists of all mammals (5 species in total) that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Unlike the difference in their reproductive system, they share some similarities with other mammals: they are warm-blooded, have a relatively high metabolism, produce milk for their young, have a single bone in their lower jaw and have 3 middle ear bones (source). Monotremes have a lower body temperature than other mammals, the short-beaked echidna can 'turn off' its body regulating mechanism to keep its energy during colder weather. Today, all living members of Monotremata live in Australia and New Guinea.
Interesting fact: The name 'Monotreme' means 'single opening', because members of the order of Monotremata all just have one opening when other female mammals have three (vagina, the urethra, and the anus).
At this day and age, myths have stood up, and still a lot of people think that
these creatures are inferior, they believe that these are the ancestors of the
"superior" mammals. Modern studies have almost proved that the modern
monotremes are survivor of a long-ago division of the mammal world.
Going back to the eggs, these are maintained for some time, and Monotremes
lactate, but nipples are absent. The milk comes out from the mammary glands
through holes in the skin, and not only that, these Monotremes have long
lives, with low levels of reproduction.
Monotremes' jaws are built differently from the other kinds of mammals, and
its jaw muscles are different too. The small bones are totally merged to the
skull, and not lying from the jaw as in pre-mammalian synapsids. The outside
opening of its ear lies at the jaw's base. They have additional bones at the
shoulder area, which other mammal forms do not. They have a reptile-like
movement, legs are at the side of the body and not under it. A Monotreme's leg
has a spur near the ankle, and this allegedly holds a strong venom, we are
talking of the male platypus here.
Metabolic level is significantly low, but whether this is a genuine trait or
just a form of survival on their part, could only be speculated. About the
remaining forms of Monotremata, they are all found in New Guinea and
Australia. But there are proofs existing that in a bygone era, their numbers
were abundant. The evidence from fossil findings showed that their line "went
out" from the mammalian world approximately 150 million years back. The
fossils (jaw) 110 million years old had been discovered somewhere in NSW. You
know what the fragments are: from the Steropodon galmani, the oldest
recognized fossils of Monotremata.
In '91, a fossil (tooth) of a platypus had been found in Argentina. It was at
least 61 million years.
Picture of the platypus by Stefan Kraft, licensed under GFDL
Facts about the order Monotremata, the monotremes
Postcranially, the skeleton of monotremes is also unique among mammals. (Full text)
The skulls of monotremes are almost birdlike in appearance, with a long rostrum and smooth external appearance. (Full text)
The content of this page about Mammalia Monotremata is based on the Open Directory Project and is powered by FarODP - Free Online Games and has been modified by i seek Directory (Full text)
General characteristics Like other mammals, monotremes are warm-blooded with high metabolic rates (though not as high as other mammals, see below); have hair on their bodies; produce milk to feed their young; have a single bone in their lower jaw; and have three middle ear bones (though this feature is now thought to have evolved independently in monotremes, see below). (Full text)
The jaw of monotremes is constructed somewhat differently from that of other mammals, and the jaw opening muscle is different. (Full text)
*A26 added back into teh froupline* Not sure if Green Dappled Monotremata is out of AHM or A26. (Full text)
Electroreception of monotremes is partially comparable to that in fish. (Full text)
The order Monotremata is a fairly ancient mammalian taxon. (Full text)
Here, the monotremes are vastly more diverse, vastly more widespread and have attained a fair greater size than their HE counterparts. (Full text)
The early history of the monotremes is very poorly understood - the only Mesozoic fossil remains we have are collections of jaws and teeth from the Aptian-Albian of Australia that suggest an already considerable degree of diversity and specialization at this early date. (Full text)
>Natural history from the monotreme articleMonotremata is the most ancient living order of mammals. (Full text)
Natural history from the monotreme articleMonotremata is the most ancient living order of mammals. (Full text)
Monotremes are only found in Australia and New Guinea. (Full text)
Which of the following statements about monotremes is correct? (Full text)
Since Monotremata is the only order in the subclass Prototheria, it is somewhat redundant. (Full text)
) Monotremes Monotremes are the most primitive mammals. (Full text)
Printouts Monotremes are the most primitive mammals. (Full text)
Threats The biggest threat facing all monotremes is loss of habitat. (Full text)
Monotremes are really weird. (Full text)
Monotremes is a Melbourne based event production group with a sweep that includes electronic music & dance culture. (Full text)
Yet for all their similarities the two monotremes are surprisingly different. (Full text)
Monotremata is the only order in the prototheria subclass. (Full text)
Jump to: General, Art, Business, Computing, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Religion, Science, Slang, Sports, Tech, Phrases We found 14 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word monotremata: Tip: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "monotremata" is defined. (Full text)
Monotremes are not a very diverse group today, and there has not been much fossil information known until rather recently. (Full text)
Animal Adaptations - Monotremes Animal Adaptations - Monotremes Animal Adaptations - Monotremes Monotremes are a very unusual type of animal. (Full text)
1. Monotremata, order Monotremata -- (coextensive with the subclass Prototheria)Monotremata
order Monotremata
(Source WordNet)