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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
Arctocebus calabarensi

Arctocebus calabarensi

Arctocebus calabarensis,a kind of lemur

Features:Almost no tail

The scientific name of the golden bear monkey is Arctocebus calabarensis, and its foreign name is a kind of lemur. It is a member of the primate family Sloris.The golden bear monkey lives alone, is active during the day, and lives in trees. It mainly feeds on insects and occasionally eats fruits. Th...

Nycticebus menagensis

Nycticebus menagensis

Nycticebus menagensis,Philippine Slow Loris

Features:It is the smallest species of loris

Philippine Slow Loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is a primate of the order Prosimian, a slow loris native to the northern and eastern coastal areas of Borneo Island and the Sulu Islands of the Philippines. The animal was first named Bornean slow loris in 1892, but was included in the widely distributed...

Nycticebus kayan

Nycticebus kayan

Nycticebus kayan,Kayan Slow Loris

Features:Has special "eye bags"

Kayan Slow Loris (Scientific name: Nycticebus kayan) is named after the Kayan River that flows through its territory. It was discovered on the island of Borneo in 2012, when it was classified as a subspecies of the "Philippine Slow Loris" (Nycticebus menagensis), but according to research...

Nycticebus hilleri

Nycticebus hilleri

Nycticebus hilleri,Sumatran Slow Loris

Features:Arm secretions contain chemicals linked to cat allergies

Sumatran Slow Loris (scientific name: Nycticebus hilleri) foreign name Sumatran Slow Loris, no subspecies.Sumatran Slow Loris is an omnivore, eating small animals, fruits, gums and other plants.Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 ver 3.1 - Endangered (EN).Protect wild animals a...

Nycticebus javanicus

Nycticebus javanicus

Nycticebus javanicus,Javan Slow Loris

Features:There is a distinct stripe covering the top of the head and branching towards the eyes and ears

Javan Slow Loris (scientific name: Nycticebus javanicus) is also known as Javan Slow Loris. It has two subspecies.The Javan slow loris is nocturnal and arboreal, rarely going to the ground. It spends its activities, foraging, mating, reproduction and hibernation in trees. During the day, it curls up...

Nycticebus coucan

Nycticebus coucan

Nycticebus coucan, Greater Slow Loris、 Slow Loris、Sunda Slow Loris, Loris lent, Loris Lento,Middle Slow Loris

Features:The back is golden yellow, the snout is black, there is a white vertical stripe from the nose to the forehead, and the face is light in color.

The slow loris (scientific name: Nycticebus coucan) is called Greater Slow Loris, Slow Loris, Sunda Slow Loris in English, Loris lent in French, Loris Lento in Spanish, and has 2 subspecies.The slow loris is a typical arboreal animal in the tropical rainforest. It is nocturnal and rarely moves on th...

Nycticebus borneanus

Nycticebus borneanus

Nycticebus borneanus,Bornean Slow Loris

Features:The fur on the body is very long and fluffy, almost like that of an adult cat.

Kalimantan slow loris (scientific name: Nycticebus borneanus), foreign name Bornean Slow Loris, no subspecies.The Kalimantan slow loris is nocturnal and arboreal, rarely going to the ground. It spends its activities, foraging, mating, reproduction and hibernation in trees. During the day, it curls u...

Nycticebus bancanus

Nycticebus bancanus

Nycticebus bancanus,Bangka Slow Loris

Features:The back has a distinct dark red coat with lighter facial markings and dark rings around the eyes.

Bangka Island Slow Loris (scientific name: Nycticebus bancanus), also known as Bangka Slow Loris in English, is a species of Primates, Loris family, and genus Loris.The Bangka Island slow loris is nocturnal and arboreal, rarely going to the ground. It spends its activities, foraging, mating, reprodu...

Daubentonia madagascariensis

Daubentonia madagascariensis

Daubentonia madagascariensis,Aye-aye

Features:Named for the length of the fingers and toes (middle finger is particularly long)

Daubentonia madagascariensis (scientific name: Aye-aye) is named after the length of its fingers and toes (middle finger is particularly long).When French explorers first saw the aye-aye in 1780, they thought it was a kind of squirrel. It was not until 1860 that taxonomists dissected and verified th...

Otolemur crassicaudatus

Otolemur crassicaudatus

Otolemur crassicaudatus,Rough-tailed monkey

Features:Round head, big ears, small eyes

Otolemur crassicaudatus (Latin name: Otolemur crassicaudatus) is a nocturnal primate and the largest member of the family Otolemuridae.Otolemur crassicaudatus is a nocturnal animal. It lives in tree holes during the day. Their food includes fruits, seeds, flowers, insects, slugs, reptiles and birds....

Varecia rubra

Varecia rubra

Varecia rubra,Red Ruffed Lemur

Features:Reddish fur, black face, black tail

The red-collared lemur (scientific name: Varecia rubra), whose foreign name is Red Ruffed Lemur, is one of two types of collared lemurs.Red-collared lemurs generally live in small family-style groups. Groups consist of 2-16 members. Active during the day, active in the early morning and evening. The...

Prolemur simus

Prolemur simus

Prolemur simus,Greater Bamboo Lemur

Features:The largest bamboo lemur

Greater Bamboo Lemur (scientific name: Prolemur simus) is a monotypic species of the genus Prolemur, with only about 140 individuals remaining.Greater Bamboo Lemur specializes in eating bamboo, a feature that is extremely unusual among mammals. Almost 98% of the diet is provided by this low-energy f...

Hapalemur simus

Hapalemur simus

Hapalemur simus,Greater Bamboo Lemur

Features:It is the largest lemur in the genus Lemur.

The Greater Bamboo Lemur (scientific name: Hapalemur simus) is the largest lemur in the genus Hapalemur.The natural forests of Madagascar's 25 bamboo species are all less than 20,000 square kilometers, and as many as 10 bamboo species have natural forests less than 2,000 square kilometers. The p...

Hapalemur occidentalis

Hapalemur occidentalis

Hapalemur occidentalis

Features:

The Sanhe tame lemur (scientific name: Hapalemur occidentalis) lives in tropical rainforests or dry forests or shrubs. Some live in bamboo forests, reed areas or forestless mountains. They are active during the day or at night, eating insects, fruits, reeds, leaves, and occasionally birds. They live...

Hapalemur griseus

Hapalemur griseus

Hapalemur griseus,Alaotran Gentle Lemur, Alaotra Reed Lemur

Features:Although its body shape and limbs are similar to those of a monkey, its face is similar to that of a fox and a dog.

The scientific name of the gray lemur is Hapalemur griseus, and its foreign names are Alaotran Gentle Lemur and Alaotra Reed Lemur. There are three subspecies.Although the gray lemur's body shape and hand and foot structure are like monkeys, its face is like a fox and a dog. Mostly active in the...

Hapalemur aureus

Hapalemur aureus

Hapalemur aureus,Golden Lemur

Features:Golden eyebrows, cheeks and throat, light orange fur on back with grey to brown guard hairs

Golden Bamboo Lemur (scientific name: Hapalemur aureus) is a small lemur.Golden Bamboo Lemurs live in groups, with 2-6 members, usually 3 or 4, including a pair of adult lemurs, several sub-adult lemurs and lemur cubs. They live in a rainforest with dense bamboos and are active by nature, moving an...

Hapalemur alaotrensis

Hapalemur alaotrensis

Features:The only primate in the world that lives entirely in wetlands

The Alaotra Lake tame lemur (scientific name: Hapalemur alaotrensis) is listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are only two separate populations of this species left in the wild, with a population of less than 3,000, living in the 19,000-hectare...

Eulemur sanfordi

Eulemur sanfordi

Eulemur sanfordi,Sanford's Brown Lemur

Features:Both sexes are dark brown, with the male having a distinct cream mane and a grey beard with ear feathers.

Sanford's Brown Lemur (scientific name: Eulemur sanfordi) is called Sanford's Brown Lemur in foreign language. It has no subspecies and is a medium-sized lemur.Sanford's Brown Lemur is active at different times throughout the day and night. It is gregarious, but the group is not fixed. U...

Eulemur rufus

Eulemur rufus

Eulemur rufus,Red Brown Lemur,Red-fronted lemur

Features:Use poisonous millipedes as ointment

Red Brown Lemur (scientific name: Eulemur rufus) lives in small groups, usually 8-10 individuals. Although the body shape and limb structure of lemurs are similar to monkeys, their faces are similar to those of foxes and dogs. They like to bask in the sun because they are afraid of the cold. When ba...

Eulemur rubriventer

Eulemur rubriventer

Eulemur rubriventer,Red-bellied Lemur,Red-bellied lemur

Features:The upper body of both sexes is dark chestnut brown, the lower body of the masculinized male is dark chestnut brown, and the lower body of the female is milky white.

Red-bellied Lemur (scientific name: Eulemur rubriventer) is called Red-bellied Lemur in foreign language. It has no subspecies and is one of the rarest species of the genus Eulemur.Red-bellied Lemur lives in various forests and is active at different times throughout the day and night. They live in...

Eulemur mongoz

Eulemur mongoz

Eulemur mongoz,Mongoose Lemur,Mongoose lemur

Features:The fur is dense and long, broom-shaped, and the eyes are reddish orange.

Mongoose Lemur (scientific name: Eulemur mongoz) is called Mongoose Lemur in foreign language. It has no subspecies and is a medium-sized lemur.The activity pattern of the Eulemur mongoz changes with the seasons, making it very different from most other primates. Behavior varies greatly throughout t...