What is the Difference Between Prototheria Metatheria and Eutheria?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between Prototheria, Metatheria, and Eutheria lies in their reproductive systems and the development of their offspring. These three groups are subclasses of mammals, each with distinct characteristics:
- Prototheria: This subclass includes egg-laying mammals, such as the platypus and echidna. Prototherian mammals are the most primitive and lack a true placenta.
- Metatheria: This subclass comprises marsupial mammals, such as kangaroos and opossums. Metatherians give birth to live but partially developed young ones, which then complete their development in a pouch. They have a simple placenta for providing nutrients to the developing embryo.
- Eutheria: This subclass includes true placental mammals, such as humans and bats. Eutherians give birth to well-developed young ones, having a placenta that provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing embryo and helps in removing waste from the fetus's body.
In summary, the main differences between Prototheria, Metatheria, and Eutheria are:
- Prototheria includes egg-laying mammals.
- Metatheria includes marsupials with a simple placenta.
- Eutheria includes true placental mammals with a well-developed placenta.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Prototheria Metatheria and Eutheria? Comparative Table: Prototheria Metatheria vs Eutheria
Comparative Table: Prototheria Metatheria vs Eutheria
Here is a table comparing the differences between Prototheria, Metatheria, and Eutheria:
Feature | Prototheria | Metatheria | Eutheria |
---|---|---|---|
Reproduction | Oviparous | Viviparous | Viviparous |
Ear | No pinna | Pinna present | Pinna present |
Nipples | No nipples | Abdominal nipples | Abdominal or thoracic nipples |
Corpus Callosum | Small or absent | Small or absent | Large and well developed |
Cloaca | Digestive and urinogenital tracts open into a cloaca | Digestive and urinogenital aperture open into a shallow cloaca | Digestive and urinogenital tracts open out by separate apertures |
Marsupial Pouch | No pouch | Often present | Absent |
Testes | No scrotum | In front of penis | Present |
Placenta | Absent | Less developed | Well developed |
Group Examples | Monotremes | Marsupials | Placental mammals |
Prototheria includes egg-laying mammals, such as monotremes. Metatheria includes marsupials, and Eutheria includes placental mammals that give birth to well-developed young ones.
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