noun
- mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young, including the platypus and echidnas
Usage: zoology
Examples
- Monotremes are found only in Australia and New Guinea.
- The platypus is the most well-known of the monotremes.
- Unlike other mammals, monotremes lay leathery eggs.
- Scientists study monotremes to understand mammalian evolution.
- There are only five living species of monotremes.
- Monotremes nurse their young with milk despite laying eggs.