Select the one animal that has all of the monotreme traits listed above.
Hippopotamuses have small hairs near their mouths and ears, but most of their skin is hairless. Their skin makes a reddish-brown substance that acts like sunscreen! Hippopotamuses give birth to live offspring. Platypuses have fur and a rubbery bill that looks similar to a duck's beak. A platypus uses its bill to find food. Young platypuses hatch from eggs. After hatching, they drink milk from their mother.
Monotremes are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify monotremes:
They make eggs with shells.
They have fur or hair. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.
Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live.
How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.
To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group.
Monotremes have the following traits:
They make eggs with shells.
They have fur or hair.
Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits.
A platypus has the following traits:
It makes eggs with shells.
It has fur.
A platypus has the traits of a monotreme. A platypus is a monotreme.
A hippopotamus has the following traits:
It gives birth to live offspring.
A hippopotamus does not have all of the traits of a monotreme. A hippopotamus is a placental mammal.