Portal:Mammals

The Mammals portal Mammals (from Latin mamma, 'breast') are a group of vertebrates constituting the class Mammalia (/məˈmeɪliə/), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles (including birds) from which they diverged in the Carboniferous, over 300 million years ago. Around 6,400 extant species of mammals have been described. The largest orders are the rodents, bats and Eulipotyphla (hedgehogs, moles, shrews, and others). The next three are the Primates (including humans, apes, monkeys, and others), the Artiodactyla (cetaceans and even-toed ungulates), and the Carnivora (cats, dogs, seals, and others). In terms of cladistics, which reflects evolutionary history, mammals are the only living members of the Synapsida (synapsids); this clade, together with Sauropsida (reptiles and birds), constitutes the larger Amniota clade. The early synapsids were sphenacodonts, a group that included the famous Dimetrodon. The synapsids split into several diverse groups of non-mammalian synapsids — traditionally and incorrectly referred to as mammal-like reptiles or by the term pelycosaurs, and now known as stem mammals or protomammals — before giving rise to therapsids during the beginning of the Middle Permian period. Mammals originated from cynodonts, an advanced group of therapsids, during the Early Jurassic. The modern mammalian orders arose 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 body type is quadruped, and most mammals use their four extremities for terrestrial locomotion; but in some, the extremities are adapted for life at sea, in the air, in trees, underground, or on two legs. Mammals range in size from the 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) bumblebee bat to the 30 m (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 are egg-laying mammals. The most species-rich group of mammals, the cohort called placentals, have a placenta, which enables the feeding of the fetus 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, and echolocation. 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, 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 Labrador Retriever (also Labrador or Lab for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. The Labrador is considered the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world, and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in the United States (since 1991) the United Kingdom, It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. They are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good natured, and Labradors are generally considered good companions for people of all ages (including a high level of patience and tolerance for children, making them both excellent companions and working dogs. Although somewhat boisterous if untrained, Labrador Retrievers respond well to praise and positive attention, and are considerably "food and fun" oriented. These dogs are as well loyal and great with little children. They may be used in shows. With training, the Lab is one of the most dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the world. Did you know? ...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 Animals Biology Cats Cetaceans Dogs Horses Primates Selected images Zebra Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim A portrait of a Plains Zebra (Equus quagga), the most common and widespread species of zebra. The unique stripes and behaviors of zebras make these among the animals most familiar to people. They can be found in a variety of habitats throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. The name "zebra" comes from the Old Portuguese word zevra which means "wild ass". Zebra stripes are typically vertical on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, with horizontal stripes at the rear and on the legs of the animal. It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes. Embryological evidence, however, shows that the animal's background color is black and the white stripes are additions. Kob Photograph: Charles J Sharp The kob (Kobus kob) is an antelope found across Central Africa and parts of West Africa and East Africa. It is closely related to the reedbucks and waterbucks and similar in appearance to the impala but more heavily built. Kob have few strong social bonds, but females can live in herds numbering in the thousands. Males are generally territorial, although on densely-populated floodplains some males live in clustered territories known as leks. This picture shows a female and calf of the Ugandan kob (K. kob thomasi) in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda. This subspecies appears on the coat of arms of Uganda. Sea otter Photo credit: Mike Baird A sea otter (Enhydra lutris) nurses her pup from nipples on her abdomen. Native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean, sea otters eat primarily invertebrates such as sea urchins and are among the smallest marine mammals. They are vulnerable to oil spills as their primary form of insulation is thick fur. A yellow-headed caracara perched on a capybara Photograph: Charles J. Sharp A yellow-headed caracara (Milvago chimachima) on the back of a capybara (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris) in the Pantanal in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Caracaras are a type of falcon that typically scavenge for their food, while capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. Eastern Grey Kangaroo Photo credit: Fir0002 The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), native to southern and eastern Australia, is the most commonly encountered kangaroo species, as it can be found in and around the major cities within its range. Although males can typically reach a height of 2 metres (6.6 ft) and weigh around 66 kilograms (146 lb), and the scientific name translates to "gigantic large-foot", the Red Kangaroo is actually larger. European bison Photo: Michael Gäbler The European bison or wisent (Bison bonasus) is the heaviest of the surviving land animals in Europe, with males growing to around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). European bison were hunted to extinction in the wild, but have since been reintroduced from captivity into several countries. This male is moulting, his winter coat coming off in clumps. Indian elephant Photograph: Yathin S Krishnappa A male Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) in Bandipur National Park, Karnataka. First described by Georges Cuvier in 1798, this subspecies of Asian elephant is considered endangered owing to large population declines since the mid-20th century. 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). Southern Elephant Seal Photo: Serge Ouachée Close-up of a juvenile Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina), showing face and mouth detail. This species of elephant seal is not only the most massive pinniped, but also the largest member of the order Carnivora living today. It is found throughout the subantarctic region. 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. 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 yawning leopard seal in the Antarctic Sound in 2016. See also the same seal in profile. Pantanal jaguar Photograph: Charles J. Sharp A wild male jaguar (Panthera onca) near the Rio Negro in the Pantanal, Brazil. Jaguars from the Pantanal are the largest of their species, about 2.7 m (8.9 ft) long, with an average weight of about 100 kg (220 lb), and some weighing more than 135 kg (298 lb). A red jaguar was a mascot of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, and during the 2016 Summer Olympics, a jaguar in the national colors of green and yellow was the Brazil team's mascot. Leopard Photograph credit: Diego Delso The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae. This photograph shows a leopard devouring an impala in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Compared to other wild cats, the leopard has a relatively large skull with powerful jaws, a long body and short legs. It can climb trees very skilfully, often rests on tree branches and can descend to the ground head first. An adult leopard is strong enough to drag a carcass heavier than itself up into a tree, where the prey may be eaten straight away or cached to be consumed later. 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. Llama Photograph credit: Kallerna The llama (Lama glama) is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era. A full-grown llama can reach a height of 1.7 to 1.8 metres (5 ft 7 in to 5 ft 11 in) at the top of the head, and can weigh between 130 and 200 kilograms (290 and 440 lb). At birth, a baby llama (known as a cria) can weigh between 9 and 14 kilograms (20 and 31 lb). Llamas typically live for 15 to 25 years, with some individuals surviving 30 years or more. This photograph shows a dam (female llama) and her cria at Laguna Colorada in Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Bolivia. 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 Select [►] to view subcategories Mammals Mammals by adaptation Mammals by classification Mammals by location Mammals by year of formal description Individual mammals Lists of mammals Mammal common names Mammal conservation Mammal pest control Mammal anatomy Mammal behavior Mammal ecology Evolution of mammals Extinct mammals Mammal genetics Mammal health Mammalian hormones Mammals and humans Mammal images Mammal redirects Milk Purported mammals Reproduction in mammals Songs about mammals Mammal taxa Ungulates Mammal stubs Quality content Featured articles Alcathoe bat Ambondro mahabo Ambulocetus Baleen whale Bat Beaver Bharattherium Blue whale Bluebuck Bobcat 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 Giraffe Camas pocket gopher Hartebeest Hippopotamus Horseshoe bat Humpback whale Impala Jaguar Javan rhinoceros Knut (polar bear) Koala Lavanify Lion Livyatan Canada lynx Marcus Ward Lyon Jr. Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins Megabat Miniopterus aelleni Miniopterus griveaudi North Ronaldsay sheep Paraceratherium Pennatomys nivalis Pinniped Pipistrellus raceyi Platypus Plesiorycteropus Primate Quagga Raccoon Right whale Rodent Sea mink Sei whale Sheep Short-beaked echidna Smilodon Springbok Steller's sea cow Sumatran rhinoceros Tammar wallaby Tasmanian devil Taxonomy of lemurs Thylacine Transandinomys Triaenops menamena Wolf Woolly mammoth Zebra Giant eland Pygmy hippopotamus Golden jackal Giant otter Sea otter Fin whale Orca Featured lists List of cetaceans List of mammals of Florida List of artiodactyls List of bovids List of canids List of carnivorans List of cervids List of felids List of fruit bats List of herpestids List of leporids List of mammals of Korea List of mephitids List of mustelids List of perissodactyls List of pinnipeds List of procyonids List of suines List of ursids List of viverrids Featured topics Mesozoic mammals of Madagascar Oryzomys Transandinomys Voalavo Featured pictures File:07. Camel Profile, near Silverton, NSW, 07.07.2007.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 buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) male with cattle egret.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:CH cow 2.jpg File:California sea lion in La Jolla (70568).jpg File:Caribou from Wagon Trails.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:Common seal (Phoca vitulina) 2.jpg File:Cow giving birth, in Laos (step by step).jpg File:Endangered arctic - starving polar bear.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: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.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:South-western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis occidentalis) female.jpg File:Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).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 Alpine ibex Alpine pika Amami rabbit Apeomyoides Ardipithecus ramidus Argentodites Arktocara Aurochs Australopithecus deyiremeda Australopithecus garhi Australopithecus sediba Azilestes Banteng Bare-tailed woolly opossum Big brown bat Kitti's hog-nosed bat Little brown bat Bear Billy (pygmy hippo) Binky (polar bear) Black-tailed jackrabbit Blackbuck Boreray sheep Bottlenose dolphin Bovidae Bramble Cay melomys Brygmophyseter California sea lion Campbell's dwarf hamster Canidae Capybara Caracal Castorocauda Cat Cheetah Chororapithecus Christmas Island flying fox Cinnamon red bat Clouded leopard Common vampire bat Coyote Pigs in culture Dark long-tongued bat Dibatag Dimetrodon Doedicurus Dromedary Dryopithecus Dugong Dwarf dog-faced bat Dwarf sperm whale Eastern mole Egyptian fruit bat Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus Equus (genus) Ethiopian hare Ethiopian highland hare European polecat Evolution of cetaceans Ferret-legging Fisher (animal) Flea Forrest's pika Four-horned antelope Fraternal fruit-eating bat Galulatherium Geoffroy's spider monkey Giant golden-crowned flying fox Gigantopithecus Glover's pika Great flying fox Hammer-headed bat Herdwick Herto Man Hipposideros besaoka History of the domestic sheep Homo rudolfensis Homo antecessor Homo ergaster Homo habilis Homo heidelbergensis Honduran white bat Horse Human Spotted hyena Isalo serotine Jacob sheep Jaguarundi Janjucetus Jungle cat Kenyanthropus Klipspringer Kogia pusilla LACM 149371 Lagrivea Large Black pig Least weasel Malagasy hippopotamus Mammal Manavi long-fingered bat Marine mammal Yellow-bellied marmot Marsh shrew Meerkat Mesozoic mammals of Madagascar Microgale macpheei Miniopterus brachytragos Miniopterus mahafaliensis Miniopterus tao Miniopterus zapfei Monk seal Muskrat Nakalipithecus Narwhal Natal red rock hare Nilgai Nyala Ocelot Ocepeia Okapi Orcinus citoniensis Oribi Paranthropus Paranthropus aethiopicus Paranthropus boisei Paranthropus robustus Paratheria (mammals) Pilot whale Polar bear Porpoise Pteropus Pubal Pudu Pygmy three-toed sloth Quoll Ralphie the Buffalo Red panda Reigomys Rhinogradentia Rice's whale River dolphin Royal antelope Saadanius Serval Setirostris Shetland sheep Sirenia Sitatunga Six-banded armadillo Smith's red rock hare Spectral bat Sperm whale Tamaraw Thalassocnus Tiger Trapalcotherium Triaenops goodmani Tricolored bat Tupaia miocenica Turkestan red pika UA 8699 Veratalpa Vietnam mouse-deer Walrus Waterbuck Whale Wildebeest William Windsor (goat) Winter white dwarf hamster Yarkand hare Yunnan hare Zygophyseter Sun bear Pallas's cat Black-footed cat Sand cat Asiatic cheetah Dusky dolphin Bay duiker Blue duiker Common eland Indian flying fox Red fox Swift fox Heuglin's gazelle Lesser kudu Mountain nyala Scimitar oryx North American river otter Moupin pika Bohor reedbuck Japanese serow False killer whale Black wildebeest Blue wildebeest Grévy's zebra Plains zebra 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 Portals Activities Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Random portal