mammal
Sign in to saveA mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which their ancestors diverged in the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. Around 6,640 extant species of mammals have been described and divided into 27 orders. The study of mammals is called mammalogy.
AI overview
Mammals are vertebrate animals that produce milk to feed their young and have fur or hair, a large brain region called the neocortex, and three special bones in their middle ear—traits that set them apart from reptiles and birds. There are roughly 6,640 known species of mammals alive today, making them a diverse and important group of animals that scientists study in a field called mammalogy.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- Vertebrata
- Parent taxon
- Mammaliaformes
Show 9 more facts
- P105
- class
- P1151
- Portal:Mammals
- P910
- Category:Mammals
- P5008
- Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4 (2022)
- P2579
- mammalogy
- P1672
Article
47 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Definitions {{Anchor|variations}}
- Molecular classification of placentals
- Evolution
- Origins
- Evolution from older amniotes
- First mammals
- Earliest appearances of features
- Rise of the mammals
- Anatomy
- Distinguishing features
- Sexual dimorphism
- Biological systems
- Circulatory systems
- Respiratory systems
- Integumentary systems
- Digestive systems
- Excretory and genitourinary systems
- Sound production
- Fur
- Thermoregulation
- Coloration
- Reproductive system
- Endothermy
- Species lifespan
- Locomotion
- Terrestrial
- Arboreal
- Aerial
- Fossorial and subterranean
- Aquatic
- Behavior
- Communication and vocalisation
- Feeding
- Drinking
- Intelligence
- Social structure
- Humans and other mammals
- In human culture
- Uses and importance
- Hybrids
- Threats
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which their ancestors diverged in the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. Around 6,640 extant species of mammals have been described and divided into 27 orders. The study of mammals is called mammalogy.
The largest orders of mammals, by number of species, are the rodents, bats, and eulipotyphlans (including hedgehogs, moles and shrews). The next three are the primates (including humans, monkeys and lemurs), the even-toed ungulates (including pigs, bovids and whales), and the Carnivora (including cats, dogs, and seals).