What is Prototheria?
{{Taxobox | name = Prototheria | fossil_range = [[Upper Triassic]] – Recent | image =Ameisenigel.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = [[Short-beaked Echidna]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | subclassis = '''Prototheria''' | subclassis_authority = Gill, 1872 | subdivision_ranks = [[Order (biology)|Orders]] | subdivision = *†[[Morganucodonta]] *†[[Triconodonta]] *†[[Docodonta]] *†[[Multituberculata]] *[[Monotremata]] }} The '''Prototheria''' is a former subclass of [[mammal]]s, now no longer in use. The name comes from Greek ''prōtos'' means 'first', and ''thēr'', 'beast'. The only surviving animals in this subclass are the [[Monotreme]]s. There are two other subclasses, the [[Metatheria]] and the [[Eutheria]]. Metatheria contains the [[marsupial]]s. All the other mammals are Eutherian. Evidence is accumulating that the Prototheria is not a natural group, but alternative suggestions are not yet agreed.<ref>Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, Richard L. Cifelli, and Zhe-Xi Luo 2004. ''Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: origins, evolution, and structure''. New York: Columbia University Press.</ref><ref>Benton, Michael J. 2005. ''Vertebrate palaeontology''. 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. {{ISBN|0-632-05637-1}}</ref> The term is not listed in Benton's 4th edition (2015), so it is now a dead term. == References == {{Reflist}} {{wikispecies|Prototheria}} {{-}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Monotremes| ]] [[Category:Mammals]]