Monotreme Reproductive Biology and Behavior

Monotremes atomic number 18 mammals that are oviparous, or egg- puting. There are up to now 3 extant species of egg-laying mammals: the playtpus and two species of echidna. Their reproductive systems are superintendent specialized to facilitate two the production of eggs and milk. The manful tract is quite simple. The female tract has qualities identical to those of birds, though female echidnas besides possess pouches. The monotreme egg is in like manner very specialized and somewhat same to a reptilian egg. Platypuses and echidnas hand very different behaviors when it comes to mating, that their genetics are quite similar. Monotremes possess a hardly a(prenominal) large chromosomes and some(prenominal) unpaired microchromosomes. The descendants of the branch radiation of mammals, monotremes have characteristics of both placentals and marsupials, while still retaining characteristics of reptiles and birds in a crew either their own. Introduction At fir st glance platypuses have the appearance _or_ semblance to be an amalgamation of mammals, birds, and everything in between. In fact, their reproduction biological science also has much in common with a intermixture of animalsreptiles, birds, placentals and marsupial mammals. Platypuses belong to a group of animals called monotremes. These egg-laying mammals have been a closed book to researchers since their discovery by Westerners over two hundred years ago.

The first specimens of platypuses brought back to England were thought to be hoaxes similar to mermaids (Moyal, 2001). Found provided in and around Austral ia, there are notwithstanding trio living ! species of monotremes: the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and two species of echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus, and Zaglossus bruijni). The articulate monotreme is Greek for one-hole, referring to the cloaca that is the exit for the urinary, reproductive, and excretory systems (Dawson, 1983). The creatures are oviparous--the females lay eggs that develop outside of her body. This paper bequeath condone the background of the animals, the anatomy of the tract and egg, breeding behavior, and genetics...If you extremity to take down a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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