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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
Phoca caspica

Phoca caspica

Phoca caspica,Caspian ringed seal, Phoca leucopus

Features:Small in size, with pale yellow skin and scattered irregular brown or black spots

The scientific name of the Caspian seal is Phoca caspica, an animal belonging to the genus Phoca of the family Phocidae.Caspian seals live in small groups in the middle or southern coast of the Caspian Sea in summer, migrate north in autumn, and form breeding groups on the ice. They give birth on fi...

Ommatophoca rossii

Ommatophoca rossii

Ommatophoca rossii,Ross seal, Ross seal

Features:Named after its large eyes

The big-eyed seal (scientific name: Ommatophoca rossii) is named because of its relatively large eyes (eye diameter up to 7 cm). It is also called Ross's seal and Ross's seal because it was first described by British Antarctic explorer James Clark Ross in 1841.Big-eyed seals feed on cephalop...

Monachus tropicalis

Monachus tropicalis

Monachus tropicalis ,Caribbean monk seal,West Indian monk seal

Features:Slightly larger than an ordinary seal, it has a short and wide mouth and a high and round forehead. It is extinct.

Caribbean monk seal, Monachus tropicalis (Gray, 1850) foreign name Caribbean monk seal, a seal of the genus Phocaeus in the family Phocidae.Monk seals prefer warm tropical waters, and their body shape is more suitable for living in water than sea lions and walruses. Their hind limbs cannot bend forw...

Monachus schauinslandi

Monachus schauinslandi

Monachus schauinslandi,Hawaiian monk seal

Features:The head is very round and covered with short, dense hair, which looks like a monk's head.

Hawaiian monk seal (scientific name: Monachus schauinslandi) is the only native seal in Hawaii.Except for the breeding season, Hawaiian monk seals usually live alone and occasionally in small groups. They are active at night, spend a lot of time foraging at sea, and return to the shore to sleep afte...

Herpestes urva

Herpestes urva

Herpestes urva,Crab-eating Mongoose,Mountain badger, brown cat, rock badger

Features:It is slightly larger than the red-cheeked mongoose, with thick and long fur, especially on the tail.

Crab-eating mongoose (Latin name: Herpestes urva) is also known as mountain badger, stone badger, water badger, white badger, bamboo civet, bamboo civet, etc.Crab-eating mongoose is active during the day. Morning and dusk are the two peaks of activity, and they rarely go out to forage at noon. Every...

Herpestes smithii

Herpestes smithii

Herpestes smithii,Ruddy Mongoose,Red mongoose, Golden palm civet

Features:The fur is reddish brown and rough, and the tail ends in black.

Ruddy Mongoose (scientific name: Herpestes smithii) is called "mugatiya" in Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. It is generally considered an untamable animal and a pest. This animal is a mongoose species endemic to Sri Lanka. It is also called "barrel" (hotambuwa) because of its appearance...

Herpestes edwardsii

Herpestes edwardsii

Herpestes edwardsii,Indian Gray Mongoose

Features:Good at controlling the number of venomous snakes and rats

The gray mongoose, scientifically known as Herpestes edwardsii, is a lone ranger that likes to wander around in the early morning and evening in search of reptiles. They move very quickly, as if they are anxiously looking for something; they rarely climb trees. The gray mongoose is good at attacking...

Helogale parvula,Dwarf mongoose

Helogale parvula,Dwarf mongoose

Helogale parvula

Features:One of the smallest mongooses in the world

The dwarf mongoose (scientific name Helogale parvula) is a small carnivore in Africa and a snake nemesis.The dwarf mongoose is docile and lives mainly in dry grasslands, open forests or shrub areas, and sometimes near buildings. They can live at an altitude of up to 2,000 meters. They like to live i...

Atilax paludinosus,

Atilax paludinosus,

Atilax paludinosus,Swamp Mongoose

Features:The fur is dark brown with black tips

The swamp mongoose (scientific name Atilax paludinosus) is a medium-sized mongoose.The swamp mongoose is a solitary animal with territoriality. When in danger, they will make high-frequency calls. They are most active at dusk and at night, feeding on fish, frogs, insects and their larvae, snails, an...

Proteles cristatus

Proteles cristatus

Proteles cristatus,Aardwolf, Hyena

Features:Timid, when attacked by enemies, it releases a foul fluid from its anus, mainly feeding on termites

Coyote (scientific name: Proteles cristatus) is also known as Aardwolf in English. It has two subspecies.The coyote is small, its teeth are highly degenerate, and its body shape is far from the streamline theory; the opening angle of its mouth is almost the smallest among beasts, which greatly limit...

Parahyaena brunnea

Parahyaena brunnea

Parahyaena brunnea,Brown Hyaena,Brown hyena, beach wolf

Features:The hair is long, coarse and shaggy, with no markings on the body, and is mainly tan in color.

Brown hyena (scientific name: Parahyaena brunnea) is also known as Brown Hyaena in English. It has two subspecies.Brown hyenas have a tightly organized social system, which is generally ruled by females, because in the group, the female as the leader is stronger than the male, while in other aspects...

Hyaena hyaena

Hyaena hyaena

Hyaena hyaena,Striped Hyaena, Hyène rayée,Hiena Rayada, Daba'a Moukhattat

Features:Except for the face and limbs, it has black stripes and is completely furry.

Striped hyena (scientific name: Hyaena hyaena) English Striped Hyaena, French Hyène rayée, Spanish Hiena Rayada, Arabic Daba'a Moukhattat, there are 5 subspecies.Striped hyenas are most often seen alone or in pairs, sometimes in small groups of up to seven. They need a very large range to fora...

Crocuta crocuta

Crocuta crocuta

Crocuta crocuta,Spotted Hyaena,Spotted Hyena

Features:It can compete with lions and is the most vocal mammal in Africa.

Spotted hyena (scientific name: Crocuta crocuta), also known as spotted hyena, is a member of the genus Crocuta and family Hyaenidae.The spotted hyena was first formally described by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. The ancient Greek root of the name was used by Pliny th...

Civettictis civetta

Civettictis civetta

Civettictis civetta

Features:Unlike other civets, it is not cat-like, but rather more like a short dog.

The African civet (scientific name: Civettictis civetta) is a civet in tropical Africa.The African civet is the largest representative of the African civet family. It is the only member of its genus. African civets are found in sub-Saharan Africa and most of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. They...

Paguma larvata

Paguma larvata

Paguma larvata,Masked Palm Civet,Civet cat, white nose heart, hairy mouse, white eyebrow, five-faced civet cat, white nose dog, Qingjie, etc.

Features:It is named after the wide white facial line from the back edge of the nose through the center of the face to the top of the forehead.

Paguma larvata (scientific name: Masked Palm Civet) is a carnivorous animal of the family Viverridae and the genus Paguma. It has 16 subspecies and is commonly known as the palm civet.Paguma larvata lives in a family, often male and female, old and young, living in the same cave. They often move in...

Fossa fossana

Fossa fossana

Fossa fossana,Spotted Fanaloka,Malagasy civet, Malagasy civet, Malagasy civet

Features:Looks and acts like a fox

The Spotted Fanaloka (scientific name: Fossa fossana) is also called the Spotted Fanaloka, but it is not a cat. It is called the Spotted Fanaloka because some of its characteristics are similar to those of cats after it evolved to adapt to the jungle living environment. In the past, it was classifie...

Eupleres goudotii

Eupleres goudotii

Eupleres goudotii,Small-toothed mongoose, sharp-nosed civet, anteater

Features:It looks like a mongoose, with a long snout and a low body, but is plain brown in color.

The small-toothed mongoose (scientific name: Eupleres goudotii), also known as the small-toothed mongoose or sharp-nosed civet, is classified under the subfamily Myrmecophaga with its close relative, the Madagascar civet. It is only 50 cm long and has a 24 cm long tail. It is almost entirely insecti...

Cryptoprocta ferox

Cryptoprocta ferox

Cryptoprocta ferox,Fossa, Hidden Anal Civet, Hidden Spirit Cat

Features:It looks like a puma, has a dog-like mouth, short fur, and is brown and shiny all over.

The mongoose (scientific name: Cryptoprocta ferox) is called Fossa in foreign language, and has no subspecies.The nests of the mongoose are hidden, and they are mainly active at night or at dusk, although they are occasionally observed during the day. They are solitary by nature, and usually act alo...

Panthera onca

Panthera onca

Panthera onca,Jaguar,Jaguar, jaguar

Features:It has a leopard-like appearance and pattern, a tiger-like body, a shorter tail, and tumor-like protrusions on the inside of its eye sockets.

The scientific name of the jaguar is Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), and its foreign name is Jaguar, also known as the jaguar. It is the third largest cat species in existence.Jaguars live in water-rich areas and, like tigers, are cats that love to swim. Jaguars love to travel alone, are dormant pre...

Tigon

Tigon

Tigon

Features:The beast has a tiger's head, a lion's mane, and a tiger's body.

Tigon (English name Tigon) is a hybrid of a male tiger and a female lion. It is congenitally weak and more precious than a liger.The successful conception rate between lions and tigers is only 1%~2%! However, the survival rate of ligers is higher than that of tigons. The survival rate of ligers is 1...

Panthera leo × tigris

Panthera leo × tigris

Panthera leo × tigris,liger

Features:It looks like a lion, but has tiger stripes on its body.

Liger (scientific name: Panthera leo×tigris), also known as liger in English, is the offspring of a lion and a tiger. It is huge in size. Like lions and tigers, it is a member of the genus Panthera in the family Felidae. It looks similar to a lion, but has tiger stripes on its body.The world's...