Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In mammalogy, the lowest order of the class Mammalia, containing those mammals which have a single or common opening of the genital, urinary, and digestive organs, and are oviparous.
  • noun In conchology, a division of geophilous pulmonate gastropods, having the external male and female orifices contiguous or common: opposed to Ditremata.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun plural (Zoöl.) A subclass of Mammalia, having a cloaca in which the ducts of the urinary, genital, and alimentary systems terminate, as in birds. The female lays eggs like a bird. See Duck mole, under duck, and echidna.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun coextensive with the subclass Prototheria

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Naturally enough, the geographer wished to preserve this interesting specimen of monotremata, and wanted to stow it away in the luggage; but M. Olbinett resented the idea so indignantly, that the SAVANT was obliged to abandon his project.

    In Search of the Castaways 2003

  • Naturally enough, the geographer wished to preserve this interesting specimen of monotremata, and wanted to stow it away in the luggage; but M. Olbinett resented the idea so indignantly, that the savant was obliged to abandon his project.

    In Search of the Castaways 1873

  • The heart is at first a simple pulsating vessel, like the heart of the lowest fishes, and the excreta are voided through a common cloacal passage -- an anatomical feature so characteristic of the lower vertebrata, that it occurs in no fully formed member of the mammalian group, with the exception of the bird-like order of monotremata, which takes its name from presenting so striking a peculiarity.

    The Scientific Evidences of Organic Evolution George John Romanes 1871

  • Generally, however, the mammalian remains of this period belong to what are considered the lower classes -- the monotremata and marsupialia.

    Story of Creation as Told By Theology and By Science 1854

  • Now these are animals at the bottom of the mammiferous class, adjoining to that of birds, of whose character and organization the monotremata largely partake, the ornithorynchus presenting the bill and feet of a duck, producing its young in eggs, and having, like birds, a clavicle between the two shoulders.

    Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation Robert Chambers 1836

  • Next to them are the monotremata, which are entirely peculiar to this portion of the earth.

    Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation Robert Chambers 1836

  • 20 To these may be added the occasional existence of two small episternal centers, which make their appearance one on either side of the jugular notch; they are probably vestiges of the episternal bone of the monotremata and lizards.

    II. Osteology. 4a. The Sternum 1918

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