The platypus belongs to a small group of mammals known as monotremes. They are the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young, as marsupials and placentals (all other mammals) do. There are only five kinds of monotremes: four species of echidna and the platypus. They live only in Australia and New Guinea.

Platypus

The platypus is a river-dwelling mammal from eastern Australia and Tasmania. It has a rubbery, duck-like bill, webbed feet and a wide, flat tail. It feeds on the worms, shrimps, insect larvae and crayfish it finds on the riverbed. The platypus lays soft-shelled eggs. The young hatch out after just a few days. They are suckled (fed on milk) by their mother until they have learned to feed for themselves.

Echidna

The echidna, or spiny anteater, lives only in Australia and New Guinea. It has a long thin snout and claws for digging up ants, termites and worms, on which it feeds. Its body is covered in sharp spines. Unlike all other mammals except the platypus, the echidna lays soft-shelled eggs. The female tucks her single egg into a pouch on her front. After it hatches, the baby, called a puggle, stays in her pouch. It licks milk that seeps from patches on her fur.