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🔬 Biology  ·  Animal Kingdom  ·  NEET

Which of the following is an egg-laying mammal?

Answer: Platypus (Ornithorhynchus).

  • A Kangaroo, a marsupial that gives birth to underdeveloped young
  • B Platypus (Ornithorhynchus)
  • C Camel, a placental mammal adapted to arid desert environments
  • D Monkey, a placental primate with prolonged gestation

Correct answer: B. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus)

Explanation: Ornithorhynchus (platypus) and Tachyglossus (echidna) are egg-laying mammals (monotremes), an exception to the rule that mammals are viviparous.

Body Plan Progression Across PhylaPoriferaasymmetricalcellular levelCnidariaradial, diploblastictissue levelPlatyhelminthesbilateral, acoelomateorgan levelNematodapseudocoel.Annelida+true coelomorgan systemEach step adds organisational complexity: symmetry → germ layers → coelom type → organ systems

Moving across the animal phyla, body organisation becomes progressively more complex: from no symmetry and cellular organisation (Porifera) through radial/diploblastic (Cnidaria), bilateral/acoelomate (Platyhelminthes), pseudocoelomate (Nematoda), to a true coelom with full organ systems (Annelida and beyond).

Concept context

Phylum-level classification of the animal kingdom from Porifera to Chordata, based on body symmetry, coelom, and segmentation. One of the most example-heavy chapters for NEET.

Read the full Animal Kingdom notes →