Meet the Monotremes Trivia Quiz

Answer: They lay eggs

The female generally lays 1-2 eggs, which she incubates for about a week. After they hatch, they are fed on milk.

Platypuses cannot fly, they have two eyes and are not very large.

Answer: Ants

The echidna is also known as the spiny anteater, however, some may eat earthworms. They do not eat gum leaves at all, preferring to leave them for the koalas. They are too slow to catch a fish, and much too small to eat a wombat!

Answer: Papua New Guinea

Archaeological evidence tells us that there was a land bridge between Australia and New Guinea, as recently as 6,000 years ago. Several other animals are common to both countries with some smaller species of kangaroo being found in Papua New Guinea. The bird of paradise is also a shared link.

Answer: 20c

The 20 cent shows a platypus swimming underwater. The echidna is on the 5 cent coin, and the dollar coin shows several kangaroos.

Australia does not use a 25 cent coin.

Answer: Snout length

The long-beaked echidna is significantly larger than its short-beaked cousin, but is much less prevalent. The short-beaked variety can be found in most areas of the country- in fact, anywhere where ants or termites live.

Neither species has large ears, in fact they only have a small opening in the skin behind their eyes.

Answer: 55 centimetres

The male is about the size of a small cat, but without the long legs. The lady platypus is generally a bit smaller. About a third of the length is made up of a broad, flat tail.

The echidna is about the same length, but considerably heavier. An echidna would tip the scales at roughly 5kg, while a platypus would only weigh about 2kg.

Answer: Greek descriptive and Greek mythology

'Platypus' is derived from the Greek for 'wide foot' because of its broad webbed feet. 'Echidna' comes from a Greek mythological creature who was half-woman and half-snake. Not sure why, as the echidna does not really look like either of those creatures.

Answer: The males have poisonous spurs

The male platypus has spurs on its hind legs, with toxin strong enough to disable a person. It is not generally lethal to humans, but can kill smaller animals. Adult platypus do not have teeth, instead they have a horny plate, used to grind their dinner. They do not have scales, they have fur, and they do not spit.

Answer: In a burrow

A platypus burrow is dug into the bank of a stream, and can extend many metres. To protect itself from predators, the entrance is usually underwater.

Fun fact: When a platypus was sent to England by early settlers, the scientists thought it was a made-up beast, and that someone had sewn a duck's bill to an otter as a joke!

Answer: Puggle

The baby echidna hatches from its egg, and is suckled by its mother for about three months.

A cria is a baby llama, an eyas is a young hawk and a shoat is another word for a piglet.