Monotremes

Monotremes are egg laying mammals. There are only two living species of them: the platypus and the echidna. The most common is the echidna which is found all over Australia and in New Guinea, but the platypus is found mainly on the east cost (eastern QLD, NSW and VIC, south eastern SA and TAS) and they were introduced to Kangaroo Island. They have no living relatives in the whole world. Although they are mammals, they are not unlike birds or reptiles. These native Australian animals are also on our coin currency the echidna is on the 5c coin and the platypus is on the 20c coin.