Ornithorhynchidae

Definition

Ornithorhynchidae is a family of monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. It includes the platypus, a unique species known for its distinctive features and reproductive habits.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ornithorhynchidae consists solely of the platypus.
2. Members of this family are found in eastern Australia, including Tasmania.
3. The platypus has a duck-bill, webbed feet, and lays eggs despite being a mammal.
4. Males have venomous spurs on their hind legs capable of delivering a painful sting.
5. They possess electroreceptors in their bills to detect prey underwater.

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Related terms

Monotreme: one of the three main groups of living mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young

Platypus: the sole living representative of the Ornithorhynchidae family with distinct features like a duck-bill and webbed feet

Electroreception: the biological ability to perceive natural electrical stimuli, used by platypuses to locate prey