3 Subclasses within the class Mammalia: Prototheria or Monotremes (3 species) Metatheria or Marsupials (275 species) Eutheria or placental mammals (3982 species)
Monotremes Most primitive mammals Only 3 species: duck-billed platypus and two spiny anteaters, or echidnas Oviparous; eggs with a leathery shell; mothers nourish their young with milk after young hatch Lack nipples Live only in Australia & New Guinea The name monotreme means one-holed (i.e.cloaca)
Echidna & Duck-billed Platypus
Marsupials Viviparous Immature young are incubated in the pouch Tasmanian wolf
Flying Squirrel
Tasmanian Devil
Marsupial Mouse
Koala (Aboriginal for no drink …They sleep for 19 hrs/day)
Wombat
Kangaroo
Wallaby
Marsupial Pouch
Opossum
The only time you see an opossum…