Home>>All Animals>>Mammal

mammals

Mammals are an important group of vertebrates characterized by the presence of mothers feeding their offspring. Notable characteristics of mammals include lactation, body hair, endothermy (warm-blooded animals), and a four-chambered heart. There are many species of mammals, living in almost all ecosystems on Earth, from the deep sea to the mountains, from tropical rainforests to the cold polar regions.

  • scientific name:Mammalia

  • Features

    • suckle:Females have mammary glands that secrete milk to feed their young.

    • Body hair:Most mammals are covered with hair.

    • Endothermic:Maintaining a constant body temperature through metabolism.

    • Four-chambered heart:Mammals have four-chambered hearts to ensure efficient oxygen delivery.

    • viviparous:Most mammals reproduce by giving birth to live young, but some species, such as monotremes (e.g. the platypus), lay eggs.

  • Habitat:Almost all habitats on Earth, including land, ocean, fresh water, polar regions, etc.

Mammals.jpg


Mammal classification table

Mammals are numerous and can be subdivided based on different biological characteristics. Mammals are roughly divided into three subclasses:

  1. Monotremata: Oviparous mammals.

  2. Marsupialia: Kangaroos, koalas, etc., whose young continue to develop in a pouch outside the mother's body.

  3. Eutheria: Viviparous mammals, the most abundant species, including humans, lions, whales, etc.

The following is a detailed classification table of mammals, including all orders, families, genera and typical animals:

sortOrderFamilyGenusExamples
MonotremataMonotremataOrnithorhynchidaeOrnithorhynchusPlatypus, Echidna


TachyglossidaeEchidnaEchidna
MarsupialiaMarsupialiaMacropodidaeMacropusKangaroos, wombats, possums


PhascolarctidaePhascolarctoskoala


DasyuridaeDasyurusBandicoot, Tasmanian devil
EutheriaCarnivoraCanidaeCanisWolf, dog, fox


FelidaeFelisHouse cat, lion, tiger


UrsidaeUrsusBlack bear, brown bear, polar bear

PerissodactylaEquidaeEquusHorse, donkey, zebra


RhinocerotidaeRhinocerosWhite rhino, black rhino


TapiridaeTapirusTapirus

ArtiodactylaBovidaeBosCattle, antelopes, sheep


CervidaeCervusDeer, reindeer, sika deer


SuidaeSusWild boar, domestic pig

CetaceaBalaenidaeMegapteraHumpback whale, blue whale


DelphinidaeDelphinusDolphins, killer whales

PrimatesCercopithecidaePongoOrangutans, gibbons, monkeys


HominidaeHomoHumans, chimpanzees, orangutans

RodentiaSciuridaeSciurusSquirrels, Ground Squirrels


CastoridaeCastorbeaver


MuridaeMusHouse mouse, vole

ChiropteraVespertilionidaeMyotisSmall bat, big bat

LagomorphaLeporidaeOryctolagusRabbit, hare

Characteristics and Adaptations of Mammals

Mammals are one of the most diverse groups in the biological world. Here are the main characteristics of mammals and how they adapt:


1. Breastfeeding

A notable feature of mammals is that mothers secrete milk through their mammary glands to feed their offspring. This allows mammal cubs to receive adequate nutritional support after birth, increasing their survival rate.


2. Body hair

Almost all mammals have body hair, which not only helps to keep warm, but also plays a camouflage or display function in some species. For example, the white hair of polar bears helps them camouflage in the snow and reduce the risk of being discovered by prey.


3. Homeothermy

Mammals maintain a stable body temperature through metabolism, which allows mammals to maintain a suitable temperature regardless of changes in the outside temperature. This feature allows mammals to survive in a variety of environments, including extreme environments such as polar regions and deserts.


4. Viviparity

Most mammals reproduce by giving birth to live young, which allows the embryo to receive more stable nutritional support in the mother's body and be more viable after birth. Some species, such as kangaroos and koalas, adopt marsupial parenting.


5. Diet

Mammals have a variety of diets, from herbivorous to carnivorous and omnivorous. Some species (such as bats) have even evolved to suck blood. Different diets allow mammals to find living space in a variety of ecological environments.


Summary: Mammals are the most advanced animals with the most perfect physiological functions. There are more than 4,000 existing mammals. Almost all mammals are warm-blooded. Feeding their offspring with breast milk is one of their most notable characteristics. Mammals include nearly 30 orders, including Monotremes, Carnivores, Primates, Perissodactyla, and Artiodactyla.

Carnivora Primates Rodents Chiroptera Shrews Ungulata Cetacea Lagomorpha Pholidota Proboscidea Monotremata
Odocoileus virginianus

Odocoileus virginianus

Odocoileus virginianus,White-tailed Deer,Key Deer,Key Deer Toy Deer, Cariacú, Venado Cola Blanca,Virginia Deer

Features:The white-tailed deer gets its name because its tail is lifted up when it runs, and the white base of the tail is visible.

White-tailed Deer (scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus) English White-tailed Deer, Key Deer, Key Deer Toy Deer, Spanish Cariacú, Venado Cola Blanca, is a large herbivore of the Cervidae family and the genus Odocoileus.White-tailed deer are the most vigilant and timid species among deer. They ty...

Capreolus pygargus

Capreolus pygargus

Capreolus pygargus,Siberian Roe Deer,Eastern roe deer,Siberian Roe,Oriental roe deer, roe deer, dwarf deer, roe deer

Features:Has a strong "curiosity", known as the silly roe deer

Siberian roe deer (scientific name: Capreolus pygargus) is also known as Siberian Roe Deer, Eastern roe deer, and Siberian Roe. It has four subspecies. It is one of the two species in the genus Capreolus, Cervidae, and is listed alongside the western roe deer.Siberian roe deer are alert, with keen s...

Capreolus capreolus

Capreolus capreolus

western roe deer,Capreolus capreolus,European roe deer

Features:Only male roe deer have horns, which are short and straight.

Western roe deer (English: western roe deer, scientific name: Capreolus capreolus), also known as European roe deer, mainly lives in mountains and is rarely seen in plains or islands. There are 5 subspecies.The western roe deer is often active in the evening. It mainly moves in and out of the forest...

Rangifer tarandus

Rangifer tarandus

Rangifer tarandus,Reindeer

Features:Both males and females have horns, and the complex branching of the horns is an important feature of their appearance.

Reindeer (scientific name: Rangifer tarandus) is called Reindeer in foreign language. There are 17 subspecies. Also known as horned deer, it is the only animal under the genus Reindeer in the family Cervidae.The most amazing behavior of reindeer is the annual migration of hundreds of kilometers. As...

Muntiacus vaginalis

Muntiacus vaginalis

Muntiacus vaginalis,Barking Deer、Indian Muntjac、Indian Red Muntjac、Northern Red Muntjac,Northern Red Muntjac

Features:

The scientific name of Indian Red Muntjac is Muntiacus vaginalis. Its foreign names include Barking Deer, Indian Muntjac, Indian Red Muntjac, and Northern Red Muntjac. Similar to the Yellow Muntjac, it will bark when in danger, so it is also called the Barking Deer. Except for the mating season, it...

Muntiacus truongsonensis

Muntiacus truongsonensis

Muntiacus truongsonensis,Annamite Muntjac、Annam Black Muntjac、Annamite Dark Muntjac、Pygmy Muntjac、Truongson Muntjac、Truong Son Muntjac

Features:One of the smallest muntjac species

The scientific name of the Truong Son Muntjac is Muntiacus truongsonensis, and its foreign names are Annamite Muntjac, Annam Black Muntjac, Annamite Dark Muntjac, Pygmy Muntjac, Truongson Muntjac, and Truong Son Muntjac. It was discovered in Truong Son, Vietnam and its surrounding areas in 1997. It...

Muntiacus rooseveltorum

Muntiacus rooseveltorum

Muntiacus rooseveltorum,Muntjac,Roosevelts' Barking Deer,Roosevelt Muntjac, Barking Muntjac

Features:

Roosevelt's Barking Deer is a subspecies of the Barking Deer, and was proposed as a separate species by the Field Museum in 1929 on a hunting expedition led by Theodore (JNR) and Kermit Roosevelt. The specimen provided by the museum was slightly larger than the common small muntjac, and DNA test...

Muntiacus putaoensis

Muntiacus putaoensis

Muntiacus putaoensis,Leaf Muntjac,Leaf Deer,Fossil muntjac

Features:The smallest muntjac in the world

Leaf Muntjac (scientific name: Muntiacus putaoensis) is also known as Leaf Muntjac and Leaf Deer. It has no subspecies and is the smallest muntjac in the world.Leaf Muntjac is solitary. This is consistent with the view that leaf muntjacs represent an ancient group of muntjacs. Ancient muntjacs were...

Muntiacus puhoatensis

Muntiacus puhoatensis

Muntiacus puhoatensis,Puhoat Muntjac,Przewalski's muntjac

Features:A newly discovered species

The scientific name of the Puhoat Muntjac is Muntiacus puhoatensis, and its foreign name is Puhoat Muntjac. It is a newly discovered species that is only distributed in the Pu hoat area of Vietnam, which borders Laos. Some scientists also believe that the Puhoat Muntjac and the Luo Muntjac are the s...

Muntiacus montanus

Muntiacus montanus

Muntiacus montanus,Sumatran Muntjac

Features:

The scientific name of the Sumatran Muntjac is Muntiacus montanus, and its foreign name is Sumatran Muntjac. It is a solitary animal with timid and cautious habits. It mostly forages at night or in the early morning and dusk, and hides in the bushes to rest during the day. When frightened, it can ma...

Muntiacus vuquangensis

Muntiacus vuquangensis

Muntiacus vuquangensis,Giant Muntjac, Giant Barking Deer

Features:The largest muntjac species in the world

The Vietnamese giant muntjac, scientifically known as Muntiacus vuquangensis, is a species of muntjac. It is the largest muntjac species in the world and was discovered in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam and central Laos in 1994. The giant muntjac is a solitary animal with timid habits. It mostly forages...

Muntiacus atherodes

Muntiacus atherodes

Muntiacus atherodes,Bornean Yellow Muntjac、Bornean Yellow Muntjack,Tufted Deer

Features:The length of the antlers is only 7 cm, which is smaller than that of ordinary muntjacs.

The scientific name of the Bornean Yellow Muntjac is Muntiacus atherodes, and its foreign names are Bornean Yellow Muntjac and Bornean Yellow Muntjack. It has only been recognized as an independent species in recent years. Its antlers are only 7 cm long, which is smaller than those of ordinary muntj...

Muntiacus reevesi

Muntiacus reevesi

Muntiacus reevesi,Chinese Muntjak,Formosan Reeves' Muntjac、Reeve’s Muntjac、Reeves's Muntjac,Mountain barking deer, dog muntjac, horned muntjac, yellow muntjac, mountain muntjac

Features:The head is bright brown, the body hair is tan, and the nape of the neck is darker and dark brown.

Muntiacus reevesi (scientific name: Chinese Muntjak, Formosan Reeves' Muntjac, Reeve's Muntjac, Reeves's Muntjac), has three subspecies and is a small deer animal.The activity pattern of the small muntjac is similar to that of the red muntjac. It is an animal active during the day, and i...

Muntiacus muntjak

Muntiacus muntjak

Muntiacus muntjak,Bornean Red Muntjac,Indian muntjac, Borneo red muntjac, red muntjac, southern red muntjac, barking deer, yellow muntjac

Features:The length of the horn handle is the longest among muntjacs

Red Muntjac (scientific name: Muntiacus muntjak) is also known as Bornean Red Muntjac. It has 17 subspecies and is the largest species among muntjacs.Red muntjacs often appear around the forest, especially in the morning and evening, and are less active during the day. Their calls are rarely heard f...

Muntiacus feae

Muntiacus feae

Muntiacus feae,Fea's Muntjac、Forest muntjac,Wood muntjac, black muntjac, Fischer's muntjac

Features:The shape of the nasal bone is long in the middle and short on both sides, forming an inverted "V" shape.

Fea's Muntjac (scientific name: Muntiacus feae) is also known as Fea's Muntjac and Forest muntjac in foreign languages. It has no subspecies.Philippine muntjacs often move alone, and when startled, they often swim across streams and hide in the forest on the other side. When frightened by pr...

Dama dama

Dama dama

Dama dama,Fallow Deer

Features:One of the most beautiful deer in Europe

Fallow Deer (scientific name: Dama dama) has two subspecies.Male fallow deer in estrus will expand their territory, and female fallow deer will join them. The population can reach up to 150 at most. They like to live in groups and are particularly good at running. Fallen deer herds have no concept o...

Dama mesopotamica

Dama mesopotamica

Dama mesopotamica,Mesopotamian Fallow Deer、Persian Fallow Deer,Mesopotamian fallow deer, Mesopotamian deer

Features:The Persian fallow deer is larger than the fallow deer, and has larger antlers, but less palmate.

The scientific name of the Persian fallow deer is Dama mesopotamica, and its foreign names are Mesopotamian Fallow Deer and Persian Fallow Deer. They were introduced to Cyprus in the Neolithic Age. They are found in many places, including Kirokitia. There are Greek records in 200 that they swam acro...

Rucervus duvaucelii

Rucervus duvaucelii

Rucervus duvaucelii,Barasinga、Swamp Deer,Indian Swamp Deer, Swamp Deer

Features:Fawns are brown with spots at birth, but the spots disappear as they mature.

Barasinga (scientific name: Rucervus duvaucelii) is also known as Barasinga and Swamp Deer in foreign languages. It has three subspecies.Swamp deer are herbivores, feeding mainly on grass and aquatic plants, and also eating sugar cane, reeds and crops. The activity time is mainly concentrated in the...

Rusa timorensis

Rusa timorensis

Rusa timorensis, Javan Deer、Javan Rusa、Rusa、Rusa Deer、Sunda Sambar、Timor Deer, Cerf de Timor, Sambar de Java, Mähnenhirsch,Javan Deer, Javan Sambar, Timorese Deer

Features:Lyre-shaped three-pronged antlers

Rusa timorensis (scientific name: Javan Deer, Javan Rusa, Rusa, Rusa Deer, Sunda Sambar, Timor Deer, Cerf de Timor in French, Sambar de Java in Spanish, Mähnenhirsch in German, with 7 subspecies.Where hunting or other disturbances are not a big problem, ibex are primarily nocturnal, gathering in la...

Rucervus schomburgki

Rucervus schomburgki

Rucervus schomburgki ,Su's deer, white-hipped deer, Siamese deer

Features:The horns are very large, and the main branches can reach 110 cm in length

Schomburgki (scientific name: Rucervus schomburgki) is a species of deer native to Thailand. It is the only species of red deer that does not migrate. This is because they live in the tropical rainforest in southwestern Thailand, where vegetation is lush all year round and they can get enough food w...

Rusa alfredi

Rusa alfredi

Rusa alfredi,Philippine Spotted Deer,Prince Alfred’s Spotted Deer,Visayan Spotted Deer,Prinz-Alfred-Hirsch,Philippine sika deer, Visayan sambar deer, Visayan spotted deer, Visayan sika deer, Acheron&#

Features:One of the rarest, least known and most narrowly distributed deer species in the world

Philippine sambar deer (scientific name: Rusa alfredi) English Philippine Spotted Deer, Prince Alfred’s Spotted Deer, Visayan Spotted Deer, German Prinz-Alfred-Hirsch, no subspecies.Philippine Sambar Long overlooked as an obscure and poorly known regional variant of the widely distributed sambar de...