Like all mammals, the platypus has a backbone. ... It doesn't give birth to live young like most mammals. It lays eggs like a bird or a reptile. A mammal that does this is called a monotreme.

Is a platypus an invertebrate or a vertebrate?

The platypus is a monotreme--a group where the females produce offspring by laying eggs. Giving birth this way is extremely unusual among living mammals--but normal for most other animals. Almost every other vertebrate, including most reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds, reproduces by laying eggs.

Is a platypus a vertebrate?

A platypus is an unusual mammal that is found in Australia. Its scientific name is Ornithorhynchus anatinus, and it is one of the few mammals that lay eggs.