Abstract
Monotremata is the first or most primitive order of living mammals. They are found in the Australian area. The two major species are: Ornithorhynchus anatinus,the duck-billed platypus, and Tachyglossus aculeatus, the echidna or spiny anteater. Both lay one to three eggs with large yolks and soft shells. When the young hatch, they cling to the mother’s abdomen and lap up the milk that aexudes from primitive teats. The echidna is covered with spiny, scruffy hair and has a long beak suited to catching ants and termites. They are thought to have arisen about 100 mya from basic mammalian stock or a small mammal-like reptile.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Reference
Lewis, J. H., Phillips, L. L., and Hann, C., 1968, Coagulation and hematological studies in primitive Australian mammals, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 25: 1129.
Suggested Readings
Barrets, H., Reigel, K., Kleinhauer, E., and Lang, E. M., 1966, Comparative studies of the respiratory function of mammalian blood. II. Marsupialia: Great grey kangaroo and Tasmanian devil, Respir. Physiol. 1:145.
Fanti, P., and Ward, H. A., 1957, Comparison of blood clotting in marsupials and man, Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 35: 209.
Maxwell, C. M., Elliott, R. B., and Kneebone, G. M., 1964, Haemodynamics of kangaroos and wallabies, Am. J. Physiol. 206: 967.
Parer, J. T., and Metcalfe, J., 1967, Respiratory studies of monotremes. II. Blood of the echidna (Tachyglossus setosus), Respir. Physiol. 3: 143.
Parsons, R. S., and Guiler, E. R., 1972, Observations on the blood of the marsupial tiger cat,Dasyurops maculatus (Kerr) (Dasyuridae), Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 43: 935.
Parsons, R. S., Heddle, R. W. L., Flux, W. G., and Guiler, E. R., 1970, Studies on the blood of the Tasmanian devil, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 32: 345.
Parsons, R. S., Atwood, J., Guiler, E. R., and Heddle, R. W. L., 1970, Comparative studies on the blood of monotremes and marsupials. I. Haematology, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 39:203.
Parsons, R. S., Guiler, E. R., and Heddle, R. W. L., 1971, Comparative studies on the blood of monotremes and marsupials. I. Electrolyte organic constituents, proteins, gas analysis and enzymes, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 39:209.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lewis, J.H. (1996). Primitive Australian Mammals. In: Comparative Hemostasis in Vertebrates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9768-8_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9768-8_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9770-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9768-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive