#  Echidnas Don't Suck - But Their Ancestors Did 

 





July 20, 2018

 

 

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 A new study published in [Science](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6399/213) by Professor Emeritus **Alfred Crompton** and his faculty assistant, **Catherine Musinsky**, suggests suckling was part of the original mammalian package. The ability to suckle milk is a defining characteristic of mammals. Yet, one branch of mammals, egg-laying monotremes, which include the platypus and echidna, do not. Monotreme babies instead lap or slurp milk from patches on the mother's skin. Their work was also presented at the [5th International Paleontology Conference](https://ipc5.sciencesconf.org/) in Paris, France.

#####  *Image: Ben Nottidge/Alamy Stock Photo* 



 

 

 



 

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