What is what animal lays eggs and is not a bird?

Many animals lay eggs and are not birds! Here are a few examples, categorized for clarity:

• Reptiles: Snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators all lay eggs. These eggs are typically leathery or hard-shelled and laid on land.

• Amphibians: Most frogs and toads lay eggs, although some give birth to live young. Their eggs are often laid in water or damp environments and are typically gelatinous. Salamanders also lay eggs, often in clusters.

• Fish: The vast majority of fish species lay eggs. These eggs vary wildly in size, appearance, and how they are cared for. Some are laid in nests, others simply drift in the water.

• Insects: Almost all insects lay eggs. These eggs can be incredibly diverse in shape, size, and the way they are protected.

• Arachnids: Spiders lay eggs, often encased in a silken sac for protection.

• Monotremes: These are mammals that lay eggs! The echidnas and platypuses are the only examples, found in Australia and New Guinea. Their eggs are leathery and relatively small.

These are just some examples; many other invertebrates and a few other vertebrate groups also lay eggs. The diversity in egg-laying strategies across the animal kingdom is remarkable.