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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.

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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
Piliocolobus preussi

Piliocolobus preussi

Piliocolobus preussi,Preuss’s Red Colobus,Preuss's red colobus

Features:The whole body is covered with long hair, without tufts, and the fur is brightly colored

Preuss’s Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus preussi) is also known as Preuss’s Red Colobus. It was once a subspecies of the West African red colobus.Preuss’s Red Colobus is a diurnal animal. It is arboreal and moves quickly between species. The complex structure of their stomachs has been...

Procolobus pennantii

Procolobus pennantii

Procolobus pennantii,Bioko Red Colobus,Oko Red Colobus

Features:The head is black, the back, limbs and other parts are brown-red or chestnut-brown, and the chest and abdomen are grayish white

Pennant's Red Colobus (scientific name: Procolobus pennantii) is also known as Bioko Red Colobus, and has no subspecies.The family territory of the Pennant's Red Colobus can extend to 100 hectares or more, often overlapping with the territories of other groups. Diurnal. They are arboreal and...

Ovibos moschatus

Ovibos moschatus

Ovibos moschatus,Muskox、Musk Ox,Musk ox, Arctic musk ox

Features:The fur of the northernmost ungulate on Earth can grow up to 60 cm

Musk ox (scientific name: Ovibos moschatus) is also known as Muskox and Musk Ox in foreign languages. There are two subspecies.Musk oxen live in rocky and barren places. They live in groups and mainly eat grass and branches of shrubs. In winter, they also dig snow to eat mosses. They are brave and w...

Syncerus caffer

Syncerus caffer

Syncerus caffer, African Buffalo, Buffle d'Afrique,African buffalo, African buffalo

Features:It has a broad chest, strong limbs, a large head with long horns, and a fringe of hair at the tip of its tail.

African buffalo (scientific name: Syncerus caffer) is called African Buffalo in English and Buffle d'Afrique in French. There are 5 subspecies.African buffalo is a herd animal. Only old or injured individuals will be alone. The strongest bull in the herd becomes the leader of the herd, commandin...

Pan troglodytes

Pan troglodytes

Pan troglodytes,Chimpanzee,gorilla

Features:It is the most intelligent animal known after humans.

Chimpanzees (scientific name: Pan troglodytes) are called Chimpanzees in foreign languages. There are 4 subspecies. The nominate subspecies is also called the black-faced chimpanzee. It has a lighter face and becomes bald in old age. The male has very little beard. It is found in Congo, Gabon, Camer...

Piliocolobus oustaleti

Piliocolobus oustaleti

Piliocolobus oustaleti,Oustalet’s Red Colobus

Features:Has a brownish-red crown, black cheeks, lips and nose

Oustalet’s Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus oustaleti), also known as Oustalet’s Red Colobus, was once a subspecies of the Tana River Red Colobus and was classified as an independent species in 2013.The Ustarai red colobus has a smaller family territory than other red colobus monkeys. Th...

Piliocolobus kirkii

Piliocolobus kirkii

Piliocolobus kirkii,Zanzibar Red Colobus

Features:White hair forms the crown and the back has an attractive dark red coat

Zanzibar Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus kirkii) is called Zanzibar Red Colobus in foreign language, and has no subspecies.Zanzibar Red Colobus is a diurnal animal. It is arboreal and moves quickly between genera. The group consists of multiple males and multiple females, with each group...

Piliocolobus gordonorum

Piliocolobus gordonorum

Piliocolobus gordonorum,Udzungwa Red Colobus

Features:The head has a crown of spiky red hair and white cheeks.

Udzungwa Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus gordonorum) is called Udzungwa Red Colobus in foreign language, and has no subspecies.Udzungwa Red Colobus is diurnal. Inhabits primary and secondary forests from lowland rivers to mountains, semi-deciduous forests, mature evergreen forests, from 2...

Piliocolobus epieni

Piliocolobus epieni

Piliocolobus epieni,Niger Delta Red Colobus

Features:One of the top 25 most endangered primates in the world

The Niger Delta Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus epieni) was first discovered by scientists in 1993. At that time, scientists believed it was a subspecies of the Eastern Red Colobus, but in 2007, genetic research upgraded the monkey to an independent species.The Niger Delta red colobus mon...

Piliocolobus bouvieri

Piliocolobus bouvieri

Piliocolobus bouvieri,Bouvier’s Red Colobus

Features:

Bouvier’s Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus bouvieri), also known as Bouvier’s Red Colobus in English, was once a subspecies of the West African red colobus or the Przewalski’s red colobus. It was identified as an independent species in 2013.The Bouvier red colobus monkey is a diurnal an...

Piliocolobus badius

Piliocolobus badius

Piliocolobus badius,Western Red Colobus、Red Colobus,Western red colobus, West African red colobus, Bay colobus, Western red colobus, Red colobus

Features:Brown, gray, or black body with chestnut or red head and appendages

West African Red Colobus (scientific name: Piliocolobus badius) is also known as Western Red Colobus or Red Colobus in foreign languages. There are two subspecies of West African Red Colobus, namely the nominate subspecies and the Senegal subspecies. These subspecies have slightly different appearan...

Colobus vellerosus

Colobus vellerosus

Colobus vellerosus,White-thighed Colobus、Geoffroy's Black-and-white Colobus,Jervis's black-and-white colobus

Features:The coat is black and white, mainly black, with white beard

Colobus vellerosus (scientific name: White-thighed Colobus, Geoffroy's Black-and-white Colobus) was originally a subspecies of the West African black-and-white colobus and was confirmed as an independent species in 2003.The family of spotted colobus monkeys is composed of multiple males and mult...

Colobus satanas

Colobus satanas

Colobus satanas,Black Colobus

Features:The fur is all black, like a coat extending from the shoulders down to the entire back.

Black Colobus (scientific name: Colobus satanas) is called Black Colobus in foreign language. There are 2 subspecies.Black Colobus monkeys live in the upper and middle layers of the forest and rarely come to the ground. The family consists of an average of 6-15 members, usually including an adult ma...

Colobus guereza

Colobus guereza

Colobus guereza,Guereza、Eastern Black-and-white Colobus、Magistrate Colobus,Eastern black and white colobus

Features:There are long white hairs on both sides of the body like a cape

The East African black-and-white colobus (scientific name: Colobus guereza) is also known as Guereza, Eastern Black-and-white Colobus, Magistrate Colobus, and has 8 subspecies.The East African black and white colobus monkeys live in the upper and middle layers of the forest and rarely come to the gr...

Colobus angolensis

Colobus angolensis

Colobus angolensis,Colobus、Angolan Black-and-white Colobus、Angolan Colobus,Angolan black and white colobus monkey

Features:It has long white eyebrows and long white hair like a cape on both sides of its body.

Angola Colobus (scientific name: Colobus angolensis) is also known as Colobus, Angolan Black-and-white Colobus, and Angolan Colobus. It has 6 subspecies.Angola colobus monkeys are diurnal and arboreal species that live in the upper and middle layers of the forest and rarely come to the ground. They...

Mandrillus leucophaeus

Mandrillus leucophaeus

Mandrillus leucophaeus,Drill,Black-faced mandrill

Features:Similar in appearance to the mandrill, except that its face is not as colorful.

Drill (Scientific name: Mandrillus leucophaeus), also known as Drill in English, is one of the most endangered primates in Africa.Drills usually have about 20 members per group, usually led by a strong male. When food is sufficient, the group may even exceed 100. They move on the ground during the d...

Cercocebus torquatus

Cercocebus torquatus

Cercocebus torquatus,Red-capped Mangabey

Features:Chestnut red crest on the head

Red-capped Mangabey (scientific name: Cercocebus torquatus), also known as Red-capped Mangabey, has no subspecies and is a medium-sized monkey living in Africa.Red-capped white-browed monkeys live in multi-male and multi-female family groups, with 12-20 individuals in each group. This social structu...

Cercocebus sanjei

Cercocebus sanjei

Cercocebus sanjei,Sanje Mangabey

Features:The tuft of hair on the top of the head is very long, and the fur radiates outward from the middle to the sides.

Sanje Mangabey (scientific name: Cercocebus sanjei), also known as Sanje Mangabey, was once a subspecies of Tana Mangabey and was designated as an independent species in 2005.Sanje Mangabey is a diurnal monkey that lives on the ground. Sexually dimorphic behavior patterns: males are more likely to e...

Cercocebus torquatus

Cercocebus torquatus

Cercocebus torquatus,White-collared Mangabey、Collared Mangabey、Red-capped Mangabey、Sooty Mangabey

Features:

The scientific name of the white-necked mangabey is Cercocebus torquatus, and its foreign names are White-collared Mangabey, Collared Mangabey, Red-capped Mangabey, and Sooty Mangabey. They usually appear in groups with irregular numbers. They usually come out during the day and are most active in t...

Cercocebus galeritus

Cercocebus galeritus

Cercocebus galeritus,Tana River mangabey,Tana River Mangabey

Features:Has yellow-brown fur and a centrally separated crown on top of the head

The crested white-browed monkey (scientific name: Cercocebus galeritus), also known as the Tana River mangabey, is a medium-sized long-tailed monkey with no subspecies.The Crested White-browed Monkey is a diurnal monkey species that lives in family groups of about 10 to 36, mostly female groups. It...

Cercocebus atys

Cercocebus atys

Cercocebus atys,Sooty Mangabey,Sooty white mangabey, Red-crowned mangabey, Red-capped mangabey, White-crowned mangabey

Features:It has smoky grey fur and a fairly long whisker on its muzzle.

White-naped mangabey (scientific name: Cercocebus atys), also known as Sooty Mangabey in English, is a medium-sized monkey living in Africa.White-naped mangabey lives in multi-male and multi-female family groups, with 15-100 individuals in each group. This social structure results in a promiscuous b...