Platypuses are found only in Australia. They are part of a group called monotremes. These are mammals that lay eggs.

Millions of years ago, there were a few species of reptile-like mammals. They had fur. They nursed their babies like mammals. They had bird beaks. They were shaped like lizards. Like lizards and birds, they also laid eggs. Over time, most egg-laying mammals died off. Today, only two remain: the platypus and the echidna.