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monotreme

(män′ō trēm′, män′ə-)

noun

any of the lowest order (Monotremata) of mammals, consisting of the platypus and the echidnas, which lay eggs and have a single opening for the digestive and urinary tracts and genital organs

Origin: < ModL Monotremata < Gr monos, single (see mono-) + trēma, a hole < IE base *ter-, to rub, drill > throw

Related Forms:

monotrematous adjective

See monotreme in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A member of the Monotremata, an order of primitive egg-laying mammals restricted to Australia and New Guinea and consisting of only the platypus and the echidna.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Monotrēmata, order name

Origin: : mono-

Origin: + Greek trēma, trēmat-, perforation; see terə-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: