∞ generated and posted on 2016.11.09 ∞
Extant egg-laying mammal that lack teats.
The monotremes, among extant organisms, include the echidnas and the duckbilled platypus. The amniotic eggs they lay are reminiscent of those of reptiles, and the mothers produce milk, but don't have nipples. Monotremes nonetheless are endothermic ("warm blooded") and hairy: truly mammalian animals.
The monotremes represent a glimpse into the flesh-and-blood nature of mammals much more primitive than ourselves.
The monotremes are members of subclass Monotremata. Contrast with marsupial and eutherian/placental mammals.