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Introducing mammals
Introducing mammals

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2.1.1 Monotremes

Monotremes diverged from the main group of early mammals in the Lower Jurassic period. There are only five species living today, of which four are echidnas. You will discover more about monotremes in Section 3.

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Figure 5 A duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Tasmania, Australia)
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A duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Figure 5 A duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Tasmania, Australia)
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Figure 6 Short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus
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A short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus, in Australia.

Figure 6 Short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus
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Figure 7 Eastern long-beaked echidna, Zaglossus bartoni (Papua New Guinea)
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An Eastern long-beaked echidna, Zaglossus bartoni, in Papua New Guinea.

Figure 7 Eastern long-beaked echidna, Zaglossus bartoni (Papua New Guinea)