1. You are traveling across Australia and encounter an interesting mammal that you have never seen before. Explain how the listed features could help you determine if it’s a monotreme, marsupial, or placental mammal.
Location of natural habitat
Presence or absence of a cloaca
Presence or absence of nipples or teats
Presence or absence of a pouch
| Monotreme | Marsupial | Placental | |
| Habitat | Water | Wide range (from trees to land) | Live on trees and land |
| Cloaca | Present | Present | Absent |
| Nipples/teats | Lack nipples, instead have openings (stiff hair) | Multiple nipples | Pouch or pouches with nipples |
| Pouch | Present | Present | Not present |
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1. You are traveling across Australia and encounter an interesting mammal that you have never seen...