Brittle Stars and Basket Stars Echinoderms with Inflexible Arms

Like sea stars, brittle stars and basket stars have (in most species) five arms (which in some species are highly branched). But the arms of brittle stars and basket stars differ from those of star fish in that their central disk is easily distinguished from their arms (in starfish, the arms blend with the central disk such that it is difficult to see exactly where the two meet).

Brittle stars are so named because their arms can only move side to side and not up and down. If their arm is forced either up or down, it breaks. The lateral arm movements used by brittle stars and basket stars enables them to crawl across the substrate or cling to surfaces. There are about 2000 species of brittle stars and basket stars and they exhibit a range of feeding methods from filter feeding to scavenging to predation.

Communities and Ecosystems

Nature is a mosaic of complex interactions and relationships between animals, plants, and their environment. Individual organisms belong to populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. Energy flows from one organism to another and it is through these relationships that populations influence each other and the environment. Find out more about community and ecosystems.

Older Male Sparrows Not Threatened by Younger Males

Older male white-crowned sparrows don't see younger male sparrows as much of a threat. When vying for mates or squabbling over territory, older males don't often bother challenging their younger rivals because they pose little credible competition. Instead, they only pick a fight with other older males that could pose a significant threat to their superiority.

It turns out, the way these birds figure out each others' seniority is based on their songs as well as their plumage. Male white-crowned sparrows use song for multiple purposes including attracting a mate and claiming their territory. Since young male white-crowned sparrows sing differently than older males, song can be used to distinguish age.

After mapping the territories of 16 male white-crowned sparrows, the research team was able to observe how males of different ages responded to songs made by intruders.

They found that older birds did nto react as strongly when they heard the song of a younger bird in their territory.

Photo © Douglas Nelson / Ohio State University

Lemurs Dont Fill Niches Left Open by Extinctions

Recent research has revealed that when one of two competing lemur species goes extinct, the surviving species does not thrive. In fact, data examined by the research team shows that over the past 2,000 years, when a species goes extinct, the surviving species is vulnerable to new selective pressures that can actually increase the likelihood that it too will go extinct.

The research team, which included scientists from the University of Cincinnati and University of Massachusetts at Amherst, used radiocarbon and isotope data from fossils from eight large lemur species that have gone extinct on the island of Madagascar during the past 2,000 years. They found that after the larger lemurs disappeared, the remaining lemurs did not expand into the available niches.

Photo © Brooke Crowley / University of Cincinnati

Thailands AntiPoaching Efforts Paying Off

Anti-poaching efforts are successfully helping to protect many rare species in Thailand, according to a recent report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Videos and images collected from WCS camera traps provide park rangers much needed data that can be used to arrest and convict poachers. Additionally, camera trap information is used by Wildlife Conservation Society scientists to measure and track population sizes of numerous local species.

The camera traps, placed in multiple locations within Thailand's Western Forest Complex, have capture footage and pictures of a variety of species including wild pigs, leopards, tigers, gaurs, Asian elephants, sun bears, clouded leopards, banteng and many others. Camera trap data indicates that there are between 125 and 175 tigers living within the 18,000-square kilometer Western Forest Complex.

Thailand serves as a critical front in the battle against poachers. The WCS has joined forces with the Thai government to train park rangers how to protect the region's rare animals from illegal hunting. Many park rangers and wildlife guards from other Asian countries are trained in Thailand, so they can learn how to best protect the rare wildlife from poaching in their own countries.

Photo © DNP-Government of Thailand / WCS Thailand Program. Camera trap image of an Asian elephant calf in a heard of adults, photographed in the Western Forest Compex, Thailand.

Understanding the GoldenCrowned Sifaka Population Decline

Scientists have recently proposed that the population of golden-crowned sifakas in the Daraina region of Madagascar declined prior to the arrival of humans to the region. The team also examined 60 years of satellite images and determined that forest cover in the region has remained stable during that time period. The findings contradict the widely held belief that the decline of golden-crowned sifakas is due to recent human activities and their effects, such as deforestation and climate change.

Although there is no denying that climate change and deforestation do result in loss of biodiversity and the drastic decline (or extinction) of many species, the case of the golden-crowned sifaka may be more a case of natural decline than man-caused decline.

The research suggests that the open habitats of Madagascar's Daraina region are the consequence of climate changes that took place prior to the arrival of humans. These pre-human climate changes, which included droughts during the Holocene, reduced the golden crowned sifaka's preferred habitat.

New Fishing Technology Reduces Threat to Seabirds

Conservationists have introduced a new fishing technology that will help to reduce the threat of bycatch to critically endangered waved albatrosses. The technology, dubbed the Medina System, is aimed at making small-vessel bottom-set longline fishing safer for birds.

Current technology poses the greatest threat to seabirds when it is being set and when it is being hauled in. Birds attempt to grab bait and in doing so become ensnared on the line. They often die due to drowning or injury.

By helping to sink lines and bait more quickly, the new fishing technology reduces the chance for seabirds to grab onto bait and become hooked. Since the new aparatus does not weigh much and creates minimal drag, the lines are still easy for fishing boats to haul out of the water.

The new fishing technology was developed through the joint efforts of the American Bird Conservancy and their Ecuadorian Partner, Equilibrio Azul.

Photo © Dan Lebbin / American Bird Conservancy.

Tropical Forest Reserves Vulnerable to Declines

Biodiversity in tropical forest reserves is declining despite protection efforts. A new study by scientists at the Smitsonian Tropical Research Institute and other conservation organizations has revealed that nearly half of all protected areas in tropical forests are experiencing loss of biodiversity and an increase in invasive species despite their protected status.

The study involved over 200 scientists who examined the ecological health of nature reserves in the Americas, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. They focused on determining changes in the abundance of animal and plant species composition within protected areas. They found that a few reserves were holding up well, such as Bwindi Impenetrable N.P. in Uganda, Santa Rosa in Costa Rica, and Los Amigos in Peru. Those that were not holding up well included Kahuzi Biega in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Xishuangbanna in southern China, and Northern Sierra Madre in the Philippines.

Those nature reserves faring the least well included locations where illegal settlment, hunting and logging were encroaching on nearby lands. In light of the study results, conservationists called for better protection of protected areas.

Photo © Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

New Viper Discovered in Tanzania

Scientists working in the remote montane forests of southern Tanzania have recently discovered a new species of viper. The new snake, named after the daughter of one of the scientists involved in the discovery, is called the Matilda's horned viper (Atheris matildae).

The discovery was made by a team of experts that included Michele Menegon of Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy, Tim Davenport of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Kim Howell of the University of Dar es Salaam.

Matilda's horned viper is similar to (and larger than) the Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora). Genetic analysis has revealed that the two species diverged about 2.2 million years ago.

Scientists expect the Matilda's horned viper to be classified as critically endangered by the IUCN due to the species' restricted range. It is thought that the Matilda's horned viper survives within a fragment of montane forest no larger than 100 square kilometers.

Since illegal wildlife trade presents a serious threat to many reptiles in the region, the exact location of the new snake's habitat has not been publicized.

Photo © Tim Davenport / Wildlife Conservation Society.

Sea Turtles Coping with Climate Change

The gender of a baby green sea turtle is determined by the temperature the egg experiences during incubation. When temperatures are warmer, more females are born while. Conversely, when temperatures are cooler, more are males born.

This means that if climate change causes temperatures to rise, sea turtles risk having populations that are composed of nearly all females. If this happens, they may experience a reduction in genetic diversity since few males will be available with which to breed.

Scientists from the University of Exeter, University of Lefke (Turkey) and North Cyprus Society for Protection of Turtles have been studying green sea turtles in Northern Cyprus to assess how diverse the population is and to estimate the impact rising temperatures have had on the turtles thus far.

The research team conducted genetic tests and found that, counter to what they had expected, the green sea turtle population was surprisingly diverse. The data enabled them to estimate how many males were mating with nesting females in the population and they found that there was an average of 1.4 males for every female. Satellite tracking data revealed that males swim vast distances, sometimes thousands of miles during a single breading season. This means that males could be mating between populations that were previously thought to be more genetically isolated.

The study offers hope for sea turtles in the face of the uncertainties posed by climate change. Although rising temperatures remain a threat to sea turtles, there is cause for optimism that green sea turtles can cope with fluctations in temperature better than expected.

Photo © Kimberley Stokes / University of Exeter.

The Movement Patterns of Leatherback Turtles

Leatherback turtles in the Eastern Pacific Ocean spend more energy searching for prey than the leatherback turtles that inhabit the North Atlantic ocean. A team of scientists led by Helen Bailey of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science discovered that turtles in the Atlantic traveled at different speeds. When foraging, the Atlantic turtles traveled at low speeds but when in transit from one foraging ground to the next they travelled at higher speeds.

In contrast, leatherback turtles of the Eastern Pacific Ocean travelled at just one speed and spent most of their time searching for good foraging areas. This means that turtles that inhabit the Atlantic may be able to recover from population declines more easily than those that live in the Pacific.

Crustaceans Mobile Swiss Army Knives

Crustaceans are one of four basic groups of arthropods (the other three being the myripods, arachnids and insects). The group includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, crayfishes, wood lice and barnacles.

Crustaceans are by no means as diverse in species number as the insects or even the arachnids, but they do come in a mind-boggling array of shapes and sizes. Since crustaceans are with few exceptions aquatic species, they have escaped the demands of life on land (demands which place limitations on the ornateness of body form that can develop).

Crustaceans are an old group of animals, dating back some 500 million years to the Cambrian. Their body plan is simple yet elegant and adaptable. In his book, The Variety of Life, Colin Tudge likens crustaceans to mobile Swiss Army knives—composed of up to 32 segments each equipped with its own pair of appendages that are modified for a variety of tasks: locomotion, defense, communication, feeding, hunting, reproduction. Each segment and its appendage is like a separate tool and together the segments and appendages form as well-adapted a tool kit as a Swiss Army knife.

Photo © Ben Cranke / Getty Images.

European Badgers

The European badger is a mammal native to Europe noted for the extensive tunnels it builds. These tunnels, also known as sets or dens, are as much as six feet deep and can measure some 1000 feet in length with many chambers and openings that create a complex underground network.

Echinoderms Some Very Odd Animals

Echinoderms are a group of animals that include starfish, brittlefish, sea lilies, sea daisies, sand dollars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins. The are, arguably, among the oddest animals alive today.

The most obvious of their unique characteristics is their five-sidedness. This means that their body parts are arranged around the axis of the mouth in five equal segments. But it should be noted that echinoderms begin their lives as bilaterally symmetrical larvae. During development, one section of the larva develops into the five sections of the adult form.

Echinoderms also exhibit a variety of body layouts. In some groups (such as the sea lilies and feather stars) have a mouth and anus that point upward (these animals live attached to the substrate). Other groups (such as starfish and brittle stars) have a mouth that points downward and an anus that points upward. Then there are the sea cucumbers which simply lie about on their sides. So echinoderms are extremely varied in the layout of their body parts.

Another oddity about echinoderms is that they have no brain. Instead, they have a well developed system of nerves but no distinct nerve center that could be labeled a brain.

Photo © Stephen Frink / Getty Images.

Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars The Disc and Globe Echinoderms

The sea urchins and the sand dollars together comprise a group of echinoderms known as the Echinoidea (or more commonly as the echinoids). These echinoderms are globe or disc shaped and are either radially symmetrical or in some cases bilaterally symmetrical.

There are about 940 species of echinoids that are sorted into two subgroups. The smaller subgroup, the Perischoechinoidea, are thought to be the more primitive of the two groups. There are about 140 living species in this group and most have large, pencil-like spines. The other subgroup of echinoids are the Euchinoidea, a group consisting of about 800 species.

Sea urchins and sand dollars, like all echiniderms, have ossicles, tiny particles of calcium carbonate that form an endoskeleton. But in sea urchins and sand dollars, the ossicles are fused together to form a test (it is this structure that you might be familiar with - the test of sea urchins and sand dollars are often seaside souvenirs).

Sea urchins also have a uniques feeding structure called Aristotle's lantern. This structure is located at the center of the body and includes five teeth that when moved together form a complex grinding tool. This enables them to efficiently tear apart food. In sand dollars, the structure is somewhat modified and the teeth are smaller. Some echinoids lack the Aristotle's lanter entirely.

Bird Migrations On Tight Schedule

A recent study by scientists at York University has shown that songbirds adhere to a strict schedule when migrating. The team, lead by Kefin Frazer, a postdoctoral Fellow at York Univeristy, observed that birds headed north from the tropics at the same time each year, give or take a couple of days. The observed that male birds flew faster than female birds and those that had travelled the route before flew faster than those travelling the route for the first time.

The study resuts raise concerns about the effects of global warming. With changing climate conditions, birds may need to alter the timing of their migration to account for food availability along the route. If birds are inflexible in their departure dates, they may suffer declines due to lack of food or poor weather conditions.

Rare Langur Discovered in Borneo

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown population of Miller's grizzled langurs (Presbytis hosei canicrus), an endangered primate thought to be on the verge of extinction. The rare langurs were discovered in the Wehea Forest of East Kalimantan, Borneo. Wehea Forest is a 38,000 hectare patch of undisturbed rainforest that is home to nine species of primates including gibbons and the Bornean orangutan.

Since 2004, scientists have been concerned that Miller's grizzled langurs had become extinct. A survey conducted in 2008 found none of the langurs, further supporting the possibility that the species had become extinct. Fortunately, camera traps set up in areas west of the Miller's grizzled langur's range revealed that the species was still living.

Since the Wehea Forest is remote, it presents challenges for scientists hoping to study the animals that inhabit the area. Consequently, not much is known about Miller's grizzled langurs. Any effort to protect the species will be clouded by a lack of knowledge and understanding of the species habits and even their range.

Photo © Eric Fell.

Study Reveals Jellyfish on Rise

Jellyfish numbers are on the rise worldwide according to a global study conducted by scientists from the University of British Columbia. The research team examined data for several species of jellyfish and found that jellyfish populations were increasing in 62 percent of the locations they analyzed. Areas with booming jellyfish populations included the coastal waters of East Asia, the Black Sea, the Northeastern United States, Hawaii and Antarctica.

This study represents the first of its kind done on global scale. Plenty of anecdotal evidence exists for increasing jellyfish populations but this is the first survey that quantifies the trend.

Jellyfish impact humans in a number of ways. They pose a threat to swimmers (their stings can be very painful and depending on the species can even be life threatening). They also clog water intakes for power plants and interfere with commercial fishing.

Photo © Casper Tybjerg.

Large Herbivores Increase Forest Diversity

Rhinoceroses and elephants play a critical role in keeping the tropical forests of Southeast Asia healthy. These large herbivores help to disperse seeds and in doing so bolster forest regeneration and the maintenance of boidiversity.

The forests of Southeast Asia are rich in species number. They are also structurally dense which means dispersal of seeds can be tricky. The tightly packed forest dampens winds so wind dispersal is not often successful. Also, seeds that do make it to the ground often perish in the thick darkness shed by the dense canopy.

The most successful means of seed dispersal in such forests is to rely on seed transport by animals. Animals eat the fruit of the tropical vegetation and seeds are dispersed after the animal wanders away and either regurgitates the seeds or defecates them. Herbivores such as elephants and rhinoceroses not only eat more, they also wander further distances and can eat larger fruits and seeds. This means under normal conditions, these animals play a significant role in seed dispersal.

But habitat loss, poaching and killing of animals due to conflicts with humans, has taken a significant toll on the populations of rhinoceroses and elephants in Southeast Asia. Populations of Asian elephants, Javan rhinoceroses and Sumatran rhinoceroses have suffered dramatic declines and some species are on the brink of extinction. Such declines mean that the diversity and robustness of the very tropical forests in which elephants and rhinoceroses live are in grave danger.

Photo © Dicky Singh / iStockphoto.

The Basic Animal Groups

By understanding the basics about the six basic animal groups, you'll be on your way to grasping the basic characteristics of virtually every animal on the planet..

Bivalves

Bivalves (Bivalvia) are a group of molluscs that include clams, scallops, oysters, mussels, razor shells, cockles, venus shells, borers, trough shells and many others (some of which have yet to be identified). Bivalves are so named for their paired shells. The shells of a bivalve are made up of two halves that are mirror images of each other and are joined at one edge by a flexible hinge. Each half is asymmetrical and rounded, so that when closed against the other half, forms a domed space near the hinged edge of the shell which accommodates the bulk of the animal's body and narrows towards the edge of the shell that opens.

Starfish The Stellar Echinoderms

There are some 1500 species of sea stars (also known as starfish) alive today. Sea stars, like all echinoderms, are marine animals. They inhabit all of the world's oceans and occupy a wide range of depths, from the shallows of the intertidal zone to the trenches of the abyss.

Most species of starfish have five arms (referred to as a "stellate" in their arrangement), but some groups have more than five arms (the Solasteridae for example have between 10 and 15 arms). Starfish move using many tiny tube feet located along the underside of their arms. These tube feet are part of a water vascular system in which wter is forced into the tube foot, it expands and contacts the substrate below. It then grips to the substrate, bends and water moves out of the tube foot as it is recovered for another step.

Most starfish are scavengers although some species are predators. When feeding, starfish eject their stomach out of their mouth and onto their food or prey. The food is dissolved by enzymes and then ingested as the stomach is pulled back into the body.

Cockatoos The Drab Parrots

Cockatoos, although colorful, are less colorful than other parrots. Cockatoos (a group that includes about 21 species of medium-sized birds) are primarily white, grey or black with smaller patches of color such as pink, yellow or red on the crest, breast or tail. Cockatoos are, despite their dull coloration, notable for their elaborate crest plumage that they can lift to display.

Sharks Skates and Rays

Sharks, rays, and skates form a group of boneless fishes called the elasmobranchs (Elasmobranchii). There are about 800 species of elasmobranchs, of which over half (between 450 and 500 species) belong to the Batoidea, a group that includes skates and rays. The rest of the elasmobranch species belong to the Superorder Selachimorpha, the sharks. Sharks, when compared to rays and skates, are designed more for speed and power. Many species rely on agility to capture prey.

Arachnids Not Simply Spiders

Although scientists don't know exactly how many species of arachnids there are alive today, their best guess puts the species count in the ballpark of 100,000 of which, more than 40,000 are spiders. Since that means nearly half of all archnids are spiders, it's easy to forget the other lesser-known eight-legged creatures that belong to the group.

Arachnids include about a dozen subgroups, many of which are obscure groups that most people have never heard of. But there are a few that stand out. The most well-known group is of course, the spiders. But odds are you've probably also heard of a few other arachnid groups. They include: harvestmen, ticks and mites, and scorpions.

Scorpions are easy to recognize thanks to their segmented tails that curl up to a venomous point. Ticks and mites are generaly very small, measuring just a few millimeters in length. Harvestmen are perhaps the group that is most commonly mistaken for spiders. There are about 6,300 species of harvestmen (also known as daddy-long-legs). Members of this group have very long legs and their abdomen and cephalothorax are almost completely fused.

So next time you see something with eight legs, don't immediately assume it's a spider.

Photo © Steve Taylor / Getty Images.

Facts About Mammals

Did you know there are 21 groups of mammals? Or that there are nearly 5,000 species of mammals? Find out these facts and more in this article about mammals.

All About Mammals

Mammals are a group of vertebrates that includes some 21 groups. These groups include animals such as anteaters, bats, carnivores, aardvarks and their relatives, cetaceans, elephants, hoofed mammals marsupials, primates, rodents and many others. There are approximately 5,400 species of mammals alive today. Mammals first appeared some 200 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.

Newts and Salamanders

Newts and salamanders are a group of amphibians that include about 10 families that include some 470 species. All salamanders and newts are carnivorous. They feed on small invertebrates such as insects, worms, snails, and slugs. Many species of newts and salamanders have poison glands in their skin which helps to protect them against predators.

All About Amphibians

Amphibians are a group of animals that includes newts, salamanders, caecilians, frogs and toads. There are between 5,000 and 6,000 species of amphibians alive today. The following articles will introduce you to amphibians and their various groups:

• Amphibians
• Facts About Amphibians
• Amphibian Pictures

Facts About Amphibians

Amphibians are a group of vertebrates that include three groups: newts and salamanders, frogs and toads, and caecilians. Find out more about amphibians.

Coastal Sand Dunes

Coastal sand dunes are dynamic but fragile buffer zones of sand and vegetation that form where the following three characteristics can be found: large quantities of sand, persistent wind capable of moving the sand, and suitable locations for sand to accumulate. The process of dune formation begins with a steady on-shore wind capable of moving sand. The wind moves the sand into piles. Eventually the sand pile becomes so steep that the leeward side of the sand pile collapses under its own weight and spills down at an angle that serves to stabilize the dune. Over time, the dune migrates in the direction of the wind, as the wind moves sand up the dune's slope and over the edge. Find out more

Gharial Pictures

Gharials are a critically endangered species of crocodilian most notable for their long, slender snout. View pictures of gharials in this photo gallery.

True Parrots

True parrots are a group of parrots that include more than 330 species, making them the largest of the parrot groups. True parrots include lories and lorikeets, Neotropical parrots, gray parrots, macaws and many others. In the wild, the pet trade has taken its toll on many true parrots, capture of wild birds has left many species in danger of extinction.

Arachnid Pictures

Arachnids are more than just spiders. Browse our new Arachnid Pictures to get a close-up glimpse of arachnid diversity.

Red Fox

The red fox is a charismatic carnivore that inhabits a widespread range throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This canine occurs as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as North Africa, Central America, and Asia.

Echinoderm Pictures

You can view pictures of echinoderms, including sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, sea daisies, sand dollars, sea urchins and more here.

Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world. These giant reptiles are dull brown, dark grey, or reddish in color, while juveniles are green with yellow and black stripes. Komodo dragons are carnivores and scavengers. They are the top carnivores in their ecosystems. Komodo dragons occasionally capture live prey by hiding in ambush and then charging their victims, although their primarily food source is carrion. They have good vision and adequate hearing but rely mostly on their acute sense of smell to detect potential prey.

Animal Characteristics

Find out more about the basic characteristics of animals in this article. Although most people have a general sense of what an animal is, you'll learn the specific traits that separate animals from other forms of life.

Intertidal Zone

The intertidal zone is a gradient that stretches between land and sea and one in which there is constant change as sea water moves with the tides, alternately submerging and exposing areas of the sea floor. The intertidal zone (or littoral zone) is the area of the sea floor that lies between the high and low tide marks, bridging the gap between land and sea. At high tide, the intertidal zone is submerged beneath sea water and at low tide it is exposed to air. For this reason, the intertidal zone presents a harsh set of challenges to inhabiting organisms, who must adapt to constantly changing conditions.

Sea Cucumbers The SausageLike Echinoderms

Sea cucumbers are sausage-shaped echinoderms that include about 1250 species. Sea cucumbers have a reduced endoskeleton that consists of tiny ossicles (made of calcium carbonate) embedded in the body wall. Sea cucumbers have a mouth at the front of their body that is surrounded by tentalces (the number and structure of the tentacles varies among the different subgroups of sea cucumbers).

Sea cucumbers have a worldwide range. Most live on the sea floor, but some species burrow into the substrate or hide in crevices or under rocks. A small number of species are free-swimming. Sea cucumbers sometimes eject their entire digestive tract either through their mouth or anus (depending on species) and this behavior is thought to be a form of defense or to distract predators. The lost organs are usually regenerated.

Sea cucumbers generally measure between 4 and 12 inches, although some species are much smaller or larger than this range. They are usually scavengers, feeding on plankton and decaying organic matter that falls to the sea floor.

Falcons

Falcons are a group of birds of prey that includes 37 species. Falcons fall into several general groups including the kestrels, the hobbies and their relatives, the peregrine falcon and its relatives and the hierofalcons. The fossil record for falcons is not as complete as other birds of prey.

Walrus

The walrus is a large marine mammal that is notable for its size and its long tusks. Walrus live in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard Archipelago, the Russian Arctic, Laptev Sea, Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea.

Pinnipeds

Pinnipeds are marine mammals that include three groups, the eared seals (also known as the fur seals), the true seals, and the walrus. This group of mammals are sell suited for life in the water, with a streamlined body and powerful flippers, insulating blubber and the ability to stay underwater for long periods of time.

Monotremes

Monotremes are a unique group of mammals. Unlike placental mammals and marsupials, monotremes lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Monotremes consist of two subgroups, the echidnas and the platypus.

Prosimians

The term prosimians refers to all primates except monkeys and apes. Prosimians are more primiative than their cousins the monkeys and apes. Prosimians include galagos, pottos, lemurs, bushbabies, tarsiers and lorises. Prosimians are the only primates native to Madagascar and some groups are also found in Africa and Asia.

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