monotreme
noun
mono·treme
| \ ˈmä-nə-ˌtrēm
\
\
Definition of monotreme
: any of an order (Monotremata) of egg-laying mammals comprising the platypuses and echidnas
Examples of monotreme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Males of the Australian monotremes — egg-laying mammals — produce venom in their thighs during mating season and deliver the poison to competitors via hollow spurs just above their webbed feet. 8. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "20 Things You Didn't Know About ... Poison," 25 Sep. 2018 The platypus is part of a small group of animals called monotremes, which lay eggs and produce milk to feed their young. — Maria Clark, NOLA.com, "Platypus milk could be a weapon to fight infection: Report," 19 Mar. 2018 Around 80 million years later, the monotremes—or egg-laying mammals—split off from the mammalian lineage, says Rebecca Young, a biologist at the University of Texas at Austin. — National Geographic, "How the Venomous, Egg-Laying Platypus Evolved," 30 July 2016 There are three kinds of mammals: egg-laying monotremes such as the platypus, marsupials like kangaroos and opossums, and the majority—placental, or eutherian, mammals—including humans and about 4400 other mammal species. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Digital reconstruction of ancient chromosomes reveals surprises about mammalian evolution," 19 June 2017 Though monotremes' fossil record is limited, some skulls have been found, such as the extinct Obdurodon dicksoni. — National Geographic, "How the Venomous, Egg-Laying Platypus Evolved," 30 July 2016These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'monotreme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for monotreme
monotreme
noun
mono·treme
| \ ˈmän-ə-ˌtrēm
\
\
Medical Definition of monotreme
: any mammal (as a platypus) of the order Monotremata