Mammal

From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science

(Redirected from Mammals)

Mammals

Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia
Orders
Subclass Eutheria (Placental mammals) Afrosoricida Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Dermoptera Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Macroscelidea Perissodactyla Pholidota Primate Proboscidea Rodentia Scandentia Sirenia Tubulidentata Xenarthra Subclass Theria (Marsupials) Dasyuromorphia Didelphimorphia Diprotodontia Microbiotheria Notoryctemorphia Paucituberculata Peramelemorphia Subclass Prototheria Monotremata

The class Mammalia is an important group of warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by the possession of mammary glands, which produce milk for feeding their young. They include many familiar groups of animals such as Carnivora, Primates, Rodents, and even the Monotremes like the Duck-billed Platypus.

Anatomy

Mammals have the following characteristics in common:

Skin Glands- They have mammary glands which provide milk for the offspring. Mammals also have sweat, sebaceous, scent, and musk glands..
Hair- The bodies of mammals are typically covered with hair.
Heterodont Dentition- All mammals have different types of teeth. Each tooth has a certain job.
Endothermic- Mammals are warm-blooded. Meaning they have a high and constant body temperature, mostly independent from the mammal's surroundings.

Reproduction

Mammals perform sexual reproduction, which is followed by a lengthy gestation period prior to birth. Mammals give birth to live offspring (viviparous), with the exception of the egg laying monotremes. During Gestation (known as pregnancy in humans) the offspring grows and develops in the female's uterus. The length of gestation depends on the species of mammal, but usually the larger the animal the longer gestation lasts. At the end of gestation the offspring are born one at a time.

Placentals - Placentals have a much longer gestation period. Because of a placenta, which allows nutrients to travel between the mother and the offspring and allows waste to be taken away from the offspring's system, the longer gestation is possible.
Marsupials - After a short gestation period, the offspring is born into a pouch on its mother. When it is in the pouch it is too young to survive on its own.
Monotremes - These mammals hatch eggs. They stay in the egg as they grow and mature, and then they hatch and, for the most part, can survive on their own.

Ecology

Because mammals are such a huge group, they are very diverse. There are many different mammal eating habits. Carnivorous mammals, such as lions and tigers are usually the top predators in their habitat. Mammals occupy all variety of environmental niches. Some eat only plants (herbivores), others eat only meat (carnivores), and some eat a little of everything (omnivores).

Mammals live in many different environments. There are some who live in the hottest deserts and other mammals who live in the coldest arctic areas. And then there are all those who live in everything in between. Each group of mammals has different characteristics so it can survive where it lives. A polar bear could not suddenly be taken from its home and live in an African desert. That bear is not capable of living in that heat. But an elephant has no trouble there, if that elephant had to go live with the polar bear, it would not last at all. God gave each animal the things it needs to survive in its environment.

Gallery

Siberian Husky (Canis lupus) Order: Carnivora	Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) Order: Artiodactyla	Killer whale (Orcinus orca) Order: Cetacea	Bat (Acerodon jubatus) Order: Chiroptera
Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) Order: Primates	Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Order: Proboscidea	Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens) Order: Rodentia	Echidna Order: Monotremata