Re: Prototheria

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

>From: Flyinggoat@aol.com
 > 
 > >Monotreme mommas make milk--how can they
 > >not be mammals?
 > 
 >    As I understand it, they (spiny anteaters, echindas, and platypuses) don't
 > have a special gland in one spot on their bodies such as a mammary gland, but
 > rather they "sweat" a milk-like equivalent out of tiny gland spread all over
 > their bodies like pores (which the babies lap up rather than nurse).

The reality is in between.  The milk is secreted by modified sweat
glands over a region of the ventral part of the chest.  Elsewhere the
sweat glands function normally, and produce salty water.


swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.