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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 Eulipotyphla Ungulata Cetacea Lagoiformes Pholidota Proboscidea Monotremata
Panthera pardus

Panthera pardus

Panthera pardus,Leopard , Léopard, Panthère ,Leopardo, Pantera ,Al nimr,Leopard, Panthera pardus,Felis pardus Linnaeus

Features:Fierce "spotted big cat"

The English name of leopard is Leopard. It is a large carnivorous animal with 9 subspecies. The pattern on its body is quite similar to ancient copper coins, so it is also called "golden leopard".Due to the wide distribution of leopards, leopards in different regions show very different we...

Neofelis nebulosa

Neofelis nebulosa

Neofelis nebulosa,Clouded Leopard , Panthère longibande, Panthère nébuleuse, Pantera Longibanda, Pantera Nebulosa, Pantera del Himalaya , Kla PorPok , Seua lai mek,Clouded leopard, tortoise-patterned

Features:Secretive and rare arboreal hunter

The clouded leopard is called Clouded Leopard in English, and there are 3 subspecies. Because the length of its 4 canine teeth can reach 4-7 cm, which is very similar to the terrifying fangs of the extinct saber-toothed tiger subfamily, it is called the "small saber-toothed tiger". If the...

Pardofelis temminckii

Pardofelis temminckii

Pardofelis temminckii,Asiatic Golden Cat, Golden Cat, Temminck's Cat ,Chat de Temminck, Chat doré d'Asie, Gato Dorado Asiático ,Asiatische Goldkatze,Asian golden cat, original cat, red leopa

Features:The prototype of the legendary animal "Biao", which is considered to be ranked between tiger and leopard

The Asiatic Golden Cat is a medium-sized cat with three subspecies.Except for the breeding season, golden cats generally live alone and are nocturnal. They are more active at dawn and dusk. They live in tree caves during the day and move on the ground at night. They are agile and good at climbing, b...

Pardofelis marmorata charltoni

Pardofelis marmorata charltoni

Pardofelis marmorata charltoni,Nepalese Marbled Cat, stone cat, spotted cat, grass leopard, clouded leopard, Nepalese cat

Features:Professional killer of squirrels

The Nepalese Marbled Cat is a subspecies of the marble cat. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat, with a tail that is nearly as long as its body and very large feet. It is more like a panther than a cat.Clouded cats are genetically between "big cats" (such as tigers, leopards, snow le...

Lynx lynx

Lynx lynx

Lynx lynx,Eurasian Lynx,Eurasian lynx, forest lynx, lynx mandarin cat, horse lynx, mountain cat, wild cat

Features:Romania's national animal

The lynx is called Eurasian Lynx in English. It is similar in size to a cat but much larger than a cat. There are 7 subspecies.Lynx is a solitary wild animal that lives alone in a vast space. It is a nocturnal hunter without a fixed nest. During the day, it can lie on a rock to bask in the sun, or q...

Otocolobus manul

Otocolobus manul

Otocolobus manul,Pallas's Cat,Lynx, Ulun, Manau

Features:"Aobai among cats", a serious series of beasts

Pallas's Cat has three subspecies (Pallas's Cat, Pallas's Cat and Pallas's Cat). It is said that when ancient nomadic people saw Pallas's Cat on the grassland, they would shout "Dursun", which means stop, and then everyone called it "Pallas's Cat".The manu...

Prionailurus viverrinus

Prionailurus viverrinus

Prionailurus viverrinus,Fishing Cat , Chat Pêcheur ,Gato Pescador,civet cat, fishing cat, fishing cat

Features:A wild cat that loves water

Fishing cats are slightly larger than domestic cats, with shorter tails, about half the length of their bodies.Fishing cats and leopard cats both belong to the genus Leopard Cat, and they are closely related. Their body markings have many similarities, so people often mistake fishing cats for leopar...

Felis silvestris shawiana

Felis silvestris shawiana

Felis silvestris shawiana,Shaw's Cat,Wild cat, desert spotted cat, bandicoot, Shache spotted wild cat

Features:He has a violent temper and dares to confront wolves.

The steppe cat, also known as Shaw's Cat in English, is a Chinese subspecies of wild cats. It is known as one of the "three most adorable cats in the West" along with the manul and desert cat.Although the steppe cat looks small, it is indeed very fierce and has a violent temper. It can...

Felis chaus

Felis chaus

Felis chaus,jungle cat,Wild raccoon, raccoon

Features:The largest cat species

The jungle cat is called jungle cat in foreign language. There are 9 subspecies, which are the largest species in the genus Cat. It is worth mentioning that jungle cats will occasionally have black individuals like black panthers. There are black jungle cats in Novosibirsk Zoo.Wild raccoons are a my...

Felis bieti

Felis bieti

Felis bieti,Chinese Mountain Cat,Felis chutuchta,Grass cat, grass lynx, wild cat, desert cat, Chetang Xiongbu

Features:The only endemic cat species in the country.

The desert cat is called Chinese Mountain Cat in English. It is a unique animal in my country. There are three subspecies (desert cat nominate subspecies, desert cat Ningxia subspecies, desert cat Shaanxi subspecies). Among them, Ningxia subspecies and Shaanxi subspecies have not been seen for many...

Prionodon pardicolor

Prionodon pardicolor

Prionodon pardicolor,Spotted Linsang, spotted civet cat, spotted civet cat, oriental civet cat, leopard cat, cunning cat, tiger civet cat

Features:The difference between the spotted civet and other civets is that both sexes have no scent glands

Spotted Linsang, whose foreign name is Spotted Linsang, is a medium-sized carnivore that mainly lives in forests. There are two subspecies.There are two species of bandicoots, formerly classified as part of the family Viverridae, published in 2005 by Wozencraft, W.C. Order Carnivora. Wilson, D.E. &a...

Chrotogale owstoni

Chrotogale owstoni

Chrotogale owstoni,Owston’s Palm Civet,Barred civet, civet, gossip cat, striped civet, striped civet, Euston palm civet

Features:The "cat" with a "mouse mouth" is actually a raccoon

The Owston’s Palm Civet is a large terrestrial civet with no subspecies. It is very similar in appearance to its other relative, the Banded Palm Civet Hemigalus derbyanus. The only difference to the naked eye is the spots on the neck and limbs, but in fact the Owston’s Palm Civet has a narrower, e...

Arctogalidia trivirgata

Arctogalidia trivirgata

Arctogalidia trivirgata,Three-striped Palm Civet,Small-toothed palm civet, Small-toothed civet, Three-striped civet

Features:There are three lines on the back, so it is also called "three-line raccoon".

Small-toothed Palm Civet, also known as Small-toothed Palm Civet, has 14 subspecies.Small-toothed Palm Civet is usually found in primary and secondary forests, and even in heavily logged forest belts. They usually stay away from human settlements, but have been reported in coconut plantations. They...

Binturong

Binturong

Arctictis binturong,Badger,Panda

Features:It is the largest species of civet in China and the second largest species in the civet family.

There are 9 subspecies of binturong, the second largest species in the family Viverridae.The binturong is the only animal in the family Viverridae with a prehensile tail. The tail has fluffy and rough hair, which can grasp and act as a fifth hand, and can be used to hang the body in mid-air by wrapp...

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Coconut civet, civet cat, glutinous rice civet

Features:Often caught to make cat poop coffee

The body of the palm civet is slightly similar to that of the small civet, but it is more slender. There are 31 subspecies and it is a typical tropical forest-dwelling animal.The palm civet is nocturnal and occasionally active during the day. They live in a semi-arboreal environment, are good at cli...

Viverricula indica

Viverricula indica

Small civet, seven-striped civet, black-footed civet, arrow cat, pen cat, spotted civet, fragrant civet

Features:Similar in appearance to the large civet but smaller, slightly larger than a domestic cat

The small civet is a species of civet that is very similar to the large civet.The civet is a solitary nocturnal animal that hides during the day and comes out at night. The peak of its activities is mainly concentrated from 15:00 to 22:00 every night. It is alert and timid, agile, can swim, is good...

Viverra zibetha

Viverra zibetha

Big civet, Jiujiang civet, Nine-section civet,Large Indian civet

Features:It has a special directional ability and knows how to use the civet scent secreted by the cystic scent glands to guide it.

There are 12 subspecies of the civet cat.The civet cat is solitary by nature, likes to walk at night, is alert by nature, has very sensitive hearing and smell, hides during the day and comes out at night, is agile in action, has sensitive hearing, is cunning and suspicious, so it is called a fox cat...

Viverra megaspila

Viverra megaspila

Great Civet,Large spotted civet, spotted civet, stink cat

Features:The face is like a mouse, and the pattern on the back is like a little leopard

The Great Spotted Civet has no subspecies and is very similar to the Great Civet, except that the Great Spotted Civet has larger spots.The Great Spotted Civet often likes to move alone and usually forage at night. When night falls or before dawn, it is most active and moves quickly and...

Lutrogale perspicillata

Lutrogale perspicillata

smooth otter, Indian otter, saltwater otter, short-haired otter

Features:A close relative of the otter, the smooth-coated otter has shorter fur than the average otter.

The smooth-coated otter is an animal of the family Mustelidae and genus Otter, with no subspecies.The smooth-coated otter generally does not have a fixed residence, and the residence is not covered with grass, trees or other miscellaneous objects. There is a certain area of activity, and the time of...

Lutrinae

Lutrinae

Otter, otter cat, fish cat, water dog, water fur, water monkey

Features:Top predators in freshwater lakes

There are 14 subspecies of otters.Otters love to play. They often stand up by treading water, with their heads and necks above the water, looking into the distance, or climbing up and down the slope of the river bank, sliding and rolling on ice and snow, etc. These behaviors make their reactions mor...

Gulo gulo

Gulo gulo

Marten, wolverine, moon bear, flying bear, bear marten, mountain dog, native dog, palm bear

Features:It is the largest extant terrestrial mustelid

The mink is the only species in the genus Mink, with 6 subspecies.Mink will never allow the same sex to appear in its territory, even its own children are no exception. Therefore, once a mink reaches adulthood, it will be driven away from home by its parents and start a new life on its own. However,...