Platypus and echidna are the only living mammals that can lay eggs.

The platypus is NOT extinct.

Not at all. As of 2014, platypuses are not even endangered. The platypus is a protected species, and its current conservation status is Least Concern.

Jay Findley needs to put down the video games & open a BOOK!

For intelligent ppl this site has its fair share of immaturity and nastiness. Grow up. Be nice.

Easy question for Aussies as they are native to our country. They are known as monotremes. I have encountered many Echidnas. Platypus are are rare to encounter and you will generally only see their work building their nesting sites than the animal itself. It doeshas a nasty venomous spur on its hind leg. So it fits in well with the rest of our natives.

to Clark:Armadillos do not lay eggs because they are mammals who give birth to live young. To Helen..both of the animals are mammals..a warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, females that secrete milk for the nourishment of the young,.and the question rightly asks a True or False and it is true that they are the only mammalian species still in existance that lay eggs.

Rob Blomquist, nowhere does it say platypus is extinct. Reread the question.

Rob Blomquist, Nobody said they were

True/false questions are always true. Too easy.

luty, They are birds

Rob Blomquist, It said "Living" mammals. Neither of them are extinct!

Not the only ones. SeverrL POLITICIANS HAVE DONE THE SAME, REPEATEDLY l o l

Oh well, they are birds!! Sorry!

What about chickens???

Rob Blomquist, it wasn't said they are now extinct.

Rob Blomquist, Who say that they were extinct??

I couldn't quite tell whether the mammal in the photo was a platypus or an echidna. (Having lived in Africa & Australia, I've often seen all three animals). Its over a month now since I last saw a platypus.

luty, Penguins are birds

George Massih, Birds are not mammals, they belong to the group Aves

George Massih, mammals are animals with mammary glands. Birds do not have mammary glands nor do any other egg laying animals (which is pretty much everything that's not a mammal). Even pigeons & doves which produce a crop milk do not have mammary glands.

Anne Roberts, how is it not possible? With the number of animals humans have researched we can safely say that those 2 are the only extant egg-laying mammals. If we discover a third then the answer will change.

jerryj, as of 2014 they are near threatened and are close to being placed on the IUCN red list. As they are reliant on water Australia's droughts are causing a decline in their numbers.

Egg laying mammals are called monotremes