On Wed, 2002-05-22 at 23:48, karen lyons wrote:

> (BTW, anteaters are part of the echidnas
> family):
>
> "Echidnas, the other egg-laying mammals, are covered with strong sharp
> spines and have long tubular snouts.

Hi, sorry, that's the wrong anteater.  The echidna (Tachyglossus
aculeatus), being a marsupial monotreme from Australia, is not related
to the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophagia trydactyla), a true placental
mammmal from South America, at all.

Now, as for feeding, you must remember that other mammals don't
necessarily have the same feeding processes we do.  Whales eject the
milk into the mouth of their young (can't make a seal with a rigid
rostrum); kids butt mom's udder to stimulate MER.  I'm sure baby Giant
Anteater is well adapted to remove mom's milk from her species-specific
nipples.  Which, BTW, are located axillary.  (I've seen pictures of
quite large youngsters riding on mom's back still and wonder if they can
reach the nipples with that long snout and nurse & ride...)

Let's not anthropromorphasize and extend human breastfeeding
difficulties onto other animals.  They do just fine without us.  ;-)

regards,
Beth
Perinatal Educator
--
  /\/\    Beth Johnson
 / o o\   Cosmic Wonderer
( / ^^\)  Springfield, MA USA
 \ M_M/   "Ruling a country is like cooking a small fish--
           you have to handle it with care."--Lao Tzu


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