Portal:Mammals

The Mammals portal A mammal (from Latin mamma 'breast') is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (/məˈmeɪli.ə/). Mammals are characterized by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which their ancestors diverged in the Carboniferous Period over 300 million years ago. Around 6,400 extant species of mammals have been described and divided into 27 orders. The largest orders of mammals, by number of species, are the rodents, bats, and Eulipotyphla (including hedgehogs, moles and shrews). The next three are the primates (including humans, monkeys and lemurs), the even-toed ungulates (including pigs, camels, and whales), and the Carnivora (including cats, dogs, and seals). Mammals are the only living members of Synapsida; this clade, together with Sauropsida (reptiles and birds), constitutes the larger Amniota clade. Early synapsids are referred to as "pelycosaurs." The more advanced therapsids became dominant during the Guadalupian. Mammals originated from cynodonts, an advanced group of therapsids, during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic. Mammals achieved their modern diversity in the Paleogene and Neogene periods of the Cenozoic era, after the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, and have been the dominant terrestrial animal group from 66 million years ago to the present. The basic mammalian body type is quadrupedal, with most mammals using four limbs for terrestrial locomotion; but in some, the limbs are adapted for life at sea, in the air, in trees or underground. The bipeds have adapted to move using only the two lower limbs, while the rear limbs of cetaceans and the sea cows are mere internal vestiges. Mammals range in size from the 30–40 millimetres (1.2–1.6 in) bumblebee bat to the 30 metres (98 ft) blue whale—possibly the largest animal to have ever lived. Maximum lifespan varies from two years for the shrew to 211 years for the bowhead whale. All modern mammals give birth to live young, except the five species of monotremes, which lay eggs. The most species-rich group is the viviparous placental mammals, so named for the temporary organ (placenta) used by offspring to draw nutrition from the mother during gestation. Most mammals are intelligent, with some possessing large brains, self-awareness, and tool use. Mammals can communicate and vocalize in several ways, including the production of ultrasound, scent marking, alarm signals, singing, echolocation; and, in the case of humans, complex language. Mammals can organize themselves into fission–fusion societies, harems, and hierarchies—but can also be solitary and territorial. Most mammals are polygynous, but some can be monogamous or polyandrous. Domestication of many types of mammals by humans played a major role in the Neolithic Revolution, and resulted in farming replacing hunting and gathering as the primary source of food for humans. This led to a major restructuring of human societies from nomadic to sedentary, with more co-operation among larger and larger groups, and ultimately the development of the first civilizations. Domesticated mammals provided, and continue to provide, power for transport and agriculture, as well as food (meat and dairy products), fur, and leather. Mammals are also hunted and raced for sport, kept as pets and working animals of various types, and are used as model organisms in science. Mammals have been depicted in art since Paleolithic times, and appear in literature, film, mythology, and religion. Decline in numbers and extinction of many mammals is primarily driven by human poaching and habitat destruction, primarily deforestation. (Full article...) Selected article The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (40–50 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating. Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species' diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the spectacular bubble net feeding technique. Did you know? Opposable 'thumb' on male polydactyl cat. ...that a polydactyl cat (pictured) is a cat that has more than the usual number of toes on one or all of its paws? ...that Unsinkable Sam was a ship's cat of both the Kriegsmarine and Royal Navy during the Second World War who survived the sinking of all three ships on which he served? ...that Able Seaman Just Nuisance is the only dog to have been officially enlisted in the Royal Navy? ...that the Moscow Water Dog, developed as a water rescue dog, preferred to bite drowning people instead of saving them? ...from its discovery by John Edward Gray in 1850 until a re-assessment in 1981, the Clymene Dolphin was regarded as sub-species of the Spinner Dolphin. ...the Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is a recently recognised species of dolphin first described in 2005. Related portals Selected images Guinea baboon Photograph: William Warby A female and a juvenile guinea baboon (Papio papio) at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, England. This species is native to dry forests, gallery forests, and adjoining bush savannas in western Africa. This diurnal animal is primarily terrestrial, but sleeps in trees at night. More than 200 individuals may be in the same troop, which is limited in size by the number of suitable sleeping trees. Hereford calf Photo credit: John O'Neill An unmarked Hereford calf. Hereford cattle (Bos taurus) are a widely used breed in temperate areas, mainly for beef production. Originally from Herefordshire, England, they are found in the temperate parts of Australia, the Southwestern US, Western Canada, Argentina, Uruguay and New Zealand. Leopard seal Photograph: Godot13 The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), also known as the sea leopard, is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic, after the southern elephant seal. Its only natural predators are the killer whale and possibly the elephant seal. It feeds on a wide range of prey including cephalopods, other pinnipeds, krill, birds and fish. Together with the Ross seal, the crabeater seal and the Weddell seal, it is part of the tribe of lobodontini seals. This image shows a leopard seal in the Antarctic Sound in 2016. See also the same seal yawning. Proboscis monkey Photograph credit: Charles James Sharp The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is found predominantly in coastal areas, near rivers and in swamp forests. It is perhaps the most aquatic of the primates and is a fairly good swimmer, capable of swimming underwater; apart from this, it is largely arboreal. This image is a composite of three photographs and shows a proboscis monkey jumping between trees in Labuk Bay in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Emperor Tamarin Photo credit: Mila Zinkova The Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator) is a tamarin native to the Amazon Basin and neighboring parts of South America. It was allegedly named for its similarity to William II, the last German Emperor. The name was first intended as a joke, but has become the official scientific name. Zootomical terms of location Photo credit: Jonathan Merritt Zootomical terms of location overlap considerably with terms used in human anatomy. In animals, the head end is called the "cranial end" and the tail end is the "caudal end". The side of the body normally oriented upwards is the "dorsal" side; the opposite side, typically the one closest to the ground when walking on all legs, swimming or flying, is the "ventral" side. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve Photograph credit: Stephenekka The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is the largest national park in the state of Maharashtra in central India. Most of the reserve consists of natural dry deciduous forests, however parts have been cleared for firewood or grazing land. Besides tigers, there are Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, nilgais, dholes, striped hyenas, small Indian civets, jungle cats, sambars, muntjacs, chitals, chousinghas and honey badgers. There are also villages in the reserve, and although cattle grazing is not allowed in the core zone, some livestock inevitably stray inside. In 2013, at least four people and thirty to fifty cattle were killed by leopards, tigers and sloth bears. This picture shows a Bengal tigress named Maya photographed in the reserve. Brown-throated sloth Photo: Christian Mehlführer The brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is the most common species of three-toed sloth. It is found in the forests of South and Central America. Males and females are both about 42–80 cm (17–31 in) in total body length and weigh 2.25–6.3 kg (5–14 lb). Giraffe Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim A giraffe extending its tongue to feed. Its tongue, lips and palate are tough enough to deal with sharp thorns in trees. Giraffes prefer trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia. A giraffe requires less food than typical grazing animals, typically consuming 65 pounds (29 kg) of leaves and twigs daily, because the foliage it eats has more concentrated nutrition and it has a more efficient digestive system. Eastern Gray Squirrel Photo credit: Diliff An Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) eating a nut in St. James's Park, London. Although native to eastern North America, the species has been introduced into a variety of locations. In England, gray squirrels have mostly replaced native Red Squirrels and have no natural predators, which has added to their rapid population growth and has led to the species being classed as a pest. Cheetah Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim A close-up view of a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) cub. Unlike some other cats, the cheetah is born with its characteristic spots, as well as a downy underlying fur on their necks extending to mid-back, which gives the cub the appearance of the Honey Badger, to scare away potential aggressors. Despite this, up to 90% of cheetah cubs are killed by predators in the early weeks of life. Healthy adult cheetahs have few predators because of their speed. Virginia Opossum Photo credit: Cody Pope The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial found in North America. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, it is a successful opportunist and is found throughout North America from coast to coast (introduced to California in 1910), and from Central America and Mexico to southern Canada. California Ground Squirrel Photo credit: Howard Cheng The California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California peninsula. Their upper parts are mottled, the fur containing a mixture of gray, light brown and dusky hairs. Head and body are about 30 cm (12 in) long and the tail an additional 15 cm (5.9 in). Cat Photo credit: Chmouel Boudjnah The cat is a small feline carnivorous mammal that has been domesticated for several millennia. A male cat is usually called a tom cat, a female cat is called a queen. A young cat is called a kitten (as are baby rats, rabbits, hedgehogs and squirrels). Short-beaked Echidna Photo credit: Fir0002 The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also known as the Spiny Anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna. The species is found throughout Australia, where it is the most widespread native mammal, and in coastal and highland regions of southwestern New Guinea. Scientific classification Kingdom→ Animalia   Phylum→ Chordata   Subphylum→ Vertebrata   Superclass→ Tetrapoda   (unranked)→ Amniota   Class→ Mammalia Subclasses and Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria * Member of a haplogroup and not any of its subclades. † Taxon is extinct. Topics Subcategories Category puzzle Select [►] to view subcategories Mammals Mammals by adaptation Mammals by classification Mammals by year of formal description Mammals by location Extinct mammals Individual mammals Lists of mammals Mammal anatomy Mammal behavior Mammal common names Mammal conservation Mammal ecology Evolution of mammals Mammal genetics Mammal health Mammalian hormones Mammals and humans Mammal images Mammal redirects Milk Mammal pest control Reproduction in mammals Songs about mammals Mammal taxa Ungulates Mammal stubs Quality content Featured articles Alcathoe bat Alpine ibex Ambondro mahabo Ambulocetus Baleen whale Bat Beaver Bharattherium Blue whale Bluebuck Bobcat Camas pocket gopher Canada lynx Catopsbaatar Columbian mammoth Cougar Cryptoprocta spelea Dermotherium Dire wolf Durrell's vontsira Elephant Elk Escalera's bat European hare Evolution of lemurs Ferugliotheriidae Ferugliotherium Flocke Fossa (animal) Giant anteater Giant eland Giant otter Giraffe Golden jackal Hartebeest Hippopotamus Homo antecessor Horseshoe bat Humpback whale Impala Jaguar Javan rhinoceros Knut (polar bear) Koala Lavanify Lion Livyatan Marcus Ward Lyon Jr. Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins Megabat Miniopterus aelleni Miniopterus griveaudi North Ronaldsay sheep Orca Paraceratherium Pennatomys Pinniped Pipistrellus raceyi Platypus Plesiorycteropus Polar bear Primate Pygmy hippopotamus Quagga Raccoon Red panda Right whale Rodent Sea mink Sea otter Sheep Short-beaked echidna Smilodon South Asian river dolphin Springbok Steller's sea cow Sumatran rhinoceros Tammar wallaby Tasmanian devil Taxonomy of lemurs Thylacine Tiger Transandinomys Triaenops menamena Wolf Woolly mammoth Zebra Featured lists List of cetaceans List of mammals of Florida List of afrosoricids List of artiodactyls List of bovids List of canids List of carnivorans List of cercopithecoids List of cervids List of cingulates List of crocidurines List of dasyuromorphs List of didelphimorphs List of diprotodonts List of erinaceids List of eulipotyphlans List of felids List of fruit bats List of herpestids List of hipposiderids List of hominoids List of lagomorphs List of leporids List of lorisoids List of macropodiformes List of macroscelids List of mammals of Korea List of mephitids List of miniopterids List of molossids List of mustelids List of myosoricines List of ochotonids List of peramelemorphs List of perissodactyls List of phalangeriformes List of pilosans List of pinnipeds List of platyrrhines List of primates List of procyonids List of rhinolophids List of scandentians List of soricines List of suines List of talpids List of tarsiiformes List of ursids List of viverrids Featured topics Lagomorphs Mesozoic mammals of Madagascar Oryzomys Primates Transandinomys Voalavo Featured pictures File:07. Camel Profile, near Silverton, NSW, 07.07.2007.jpg File:094 Wild female Alpine Ibex at Creux du Van Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg File:2010-kodiak-bear-1.jpg File:2012-bb-jackal-1.jpg File:Aepyceros melampus petersi female 8014.jpg File:African Bush Elephant.jpg File:African elephant warning raised trunk.jpg File:Albino Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus.jpg File:Antarctic Sound-2016-Brown Bluff–Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) 04.jpg File:Antarctic Sound-2016-Brown Bluff–Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) 05.jpg File:Antidorcas marsupialis 2.jpg File:Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) female 3 crop.jpg File:Bison skull pile edit.jpg File:Blue Wildebeest, Ngorongoro.jpg File:Bos grunniens at Letdar on Annapurna Circuit.jpg File:Bos grunniens at Yundrok Yumtso Lake.jpg File:BrownSpiderMonkey (edit2).jpg File:CH cow 2.jpg File:California sea lion in La Jolla (70568).jpg File:Cattle tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) on Capybara.jpg File:Cervus canadensis nannodes at Tomales Point.jpg File:Charolais cattle, Sierra Nevada, Venezuela.jpg File:Cheetahs on the Edge (Director's Cut).ogv File:Chipmunk with stuffed cheeks in Prospect Park (05980).jpg File:Choloepus hoffmanni (Puerto Viejo, CR) crop.jpg File:Common seal (Phoca vitulina) 2.jpg File:Cow giving birth, in Laos (step by step).jpg File:Cynomys ludovicianus GNP 21.jpg File:Drymoreomys albimaculatus 002.jpg File:Endangered arctic - starving polar bear.jpg File:Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) female 1.jpg File:European bison (Bison bonasus) male Białowieza.jpg File:Felis silvestris silvestris.jpg File:Female impala.jpg File:Fighting impalas edit2.jpg File:Five-striped palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii).jpg File:Galerella sanguinea Zoo Praha 2011-2.jpg File:Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) male.jpg File:Giraffa camelopardalis head (Profil).jpg File:Giraffe Mikumi National Park.jpg File:Haeckel Chiroptera.jpg File:Hippo pod edit.jpg File:Horse anatomy.svg File:Humpbackwhale singing.webm File:Impala mutualim with birds wide.jpg File:Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) 4.jpg File:Jaguar (Panthera onca palustris) male Three Brothers River 2.jpg File:Koala climbing tree.jpg File:Lama glama Laguna Colorada 2.jpg File:Lion (Panthera leo) male 6y.jpg File:LutraCanadensis fullres.jpg File:MC Drei-Finger-Faultier.jpg File:Macrocranion tupaiodon 01.jpg File:Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus Bruny.jpg File:Marmota monax UL 04.jpg File:Mother and baby sperm whale.jpg File:Mud Cow Racing - Pacu Jawi - West Sumatra, Indonesia.jpg File:Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) male.jpg File:Oryctolagus cuniculus Tasmania 2.jpg File:Panthera tigris tigris Tidoba 20150306.jpg File:Perameles gunni.jpg File:Plains Zebra Equus quagga.jpg File:Red Panda (24986761703).jpg File:Red Panda.JPG File:Red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis chrysuros) male Caldas.jpg File:Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus koba).jpg File:Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) 2.jpg File:Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) adult male.jpg File:Sea otter nursing02.jpg File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Ursa Major.jpg File:Sonoma chipmunk at Samuel P. Taylor State Park.jpg File:South-western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis occidentalis) female.jpg File:Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).jpg File:The Monarch of the Glen, Edwin Landseer, 1851.png File:Thylogale billardierii.jpg File:Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) female.jpg File:Tragelaphus strepsiceros ♂ (head).jpg File:Ugandan kobs (Kobus kob thomasi) female and calf.jpg File:Vombatus ursinus -Maria Island National Park.jpg File:Xerus inauris.jpg File:Zebra portrait.jpg Good articles Acrophyseter Addax African wild dog Alpine pika Amami rabbit Andrewsarchus Animal echolocation Anoplotherium Apeomyoides Ardipithecus ramidus Argentodites Arktocara Asian elephant Aurochs Australopithecus deyiremeda Australopithecus garhi Australopithecus sediba Azilestes Banteng Bare-tailed woolly opossum Bat virome Bay duiker Bear Beaver drop Big brown bat Billy (pygmy hippo) Binky (polar bear) Black-footed cat Black-tailed jackrabbit Black wildebeest Blackbuck Blue duiker Blue wildebeest Bohor reedbuck Boreray sheep Bottlenose dolphin Bovidae Bramble Cay melomys Brown bear Brygmophyseter California sea lion Campbell's dwarf hamster Canidae Capybara Castorocauda Cat Cattle Cheetah Chororapithecus Christmas Island flying fox Cinnamon red bat Clouded leopard Common eland Common vampire bat Coyote Pigs in culture Dacrytherium Dark long-tongued bat Dibatag Dichodon (mammal) Dimetrodon Diplobune Diprotodon Doedicurus Domestic rabbit Domestication of the sheep Dromedary Dryopithecus Dugong Dusky dolphin Dwarf dog-faced bat Dwarf sperm whale Egyptian fruit bat Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus Enhydriodon Equus (genus) Ethiopian hare Ethiopian highland hare European polecat Evolution of cetaceans False killer whale Ferret-legging Fin whale Fisher (animal) Fishing cat Flea Forrest's pika Four-horned antelope Fraternal fruit-eating bat Galulatherium Geoffroy's spider monkey Giant golden-crowned flying fox Giant panda Gigantopithecus Glover's pika Glyptodon Glyptotherium Goat Great flying fox Grévy's zebra Guano Hammer-headed bat Herdwick Herto Man Heuglin's gazelle Hipposideros besaoka Homo rudolfensis Homo ergaster Homo habilis Homo heidelbergensis Honduran white bat Horse Human Idaho pocket gopher Indian flying fox Indian rhinoceros Inyo shrew Isalo serotine Jacob sheep Jaguarundi Janjucetus Japanese serow Josephoartigasia Jungle cat Kenyanthropus Kitti's hog-nosed bat Klipspringer Kogia pusilla LACM 149371 Lagrivea Laomaki Large Black Least weasel Leopard Lesser kudu Little brown bat Malagasy hippopotamus Mammal Manavi long-fingered bat Marine mammal Marsh shrew Meerkat Megaherbivore Mesozoic mammals of Madagascar Microgale macpheei Miniopterus brachytragos Miniopterus mahafaliensis Miniopterus tao Miniopterus zapfei Mixtotherium Monk seal Mountain nyala Moupin pika Muskrat Nakalipithecus Narwhal Natal red rock hare Nilgai Nyala Ocelot Ocepeia Okapi Orcinus citoniensis Oribi Ortotherium Palaeotherium Panthera onca mesembrina Paranthropus Paranthropus aethiopicus Paranthropus boisei Paranthropus robustus Paratheria (mammals) Pig Pilot whale Plains zebra Porpoise Pteropus Pubal Pudu Pygmy three-toed sloth Quoll Rabbit Red fox Reigomys Rhinogradentia Rice's whale River dolphin Royal antelope Saadanius Sei whale Serval Setirostris Shetland sheep Sirenia Sitatunga Six-banded armadillo Smith's red rock hare Snow leopard Spectral bat Spotted hyena Stellaluna Stotting Sun bear Swift fox Tamaraw Thalassocnus Tiger quoll Trapalcotherium Triaenops goodmani Tricolored bat Tupaia miocenica Turkestan red pika UA 8699 Veratalpa Vietnam mouse-deer Walrus Waterbuck Whale White-lipped peccary Wildebeest William Windsor (goat) Winter white dwarf hamster Xiphodon Yarkand hare Yellow-bellied marmot Yunnan hare Zygophyseter Pallas's cat Sand cat Asiatic cheetah Scimitar oryx WikiProjects Biology Tree of Life Plants Arthropods Cephalopods Gastropods Fishes Amphibians and Reptiles Birds Mammals WikiProject Mammals Bats task force WikiProject Dogs WikiProject Dog breeds WikiProject Rodents WikiProject Cats WikiProject Equine WikiProject Horse breeds WikiProject Cetaceans WikiProject Primates WikiProject Monotremes and Marsupials Viruses A complete list of scientific WikiProjects can be found here. See also Wikispecies, a Wikimedia project dedicated to classification of biological species. Things to do Here are some tasks awaiting attention: Article requests : Missing mammal species articles – Create a new article Cleanup : Cleanup listing for WikiProject Mammals – Functional list of mammal articles that need improvements Photo : Mammal articles without images – Upload and/or add images to articles Stubs : Expand Stub-Class mammal articles External media Wilson & Reeders Mammal Species of the World – from Bucknell University Mammal Species of the World – from National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Associated Wikimedia The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject: Commons Free media repository Wikibooks Free textbooks and manuals Wikidata Free knowledge base Wikinews Free-content news Wikiquote Collection of quotations Wikisource Free-content library Wikispecies Directory of species Wikiversity Free learning tools Wiktionary Dictionary and thesaurus Discover Wikipedia using portals List of all portals The arts portal Biography portal Current events portal Geography portal History portal Mathematics portal Science portal Society portal Technology portal Random portal WikiProject Portals