The mammals on this page belong to a few other groups that I have only encountered occasionally. These include sloths in the tropical forests of Central and South America, opossums in the Americas, and some familiar insect-eating mammals from Europe such as hedgehogs and moles. Order Pilosa — Sloths and Anteaters Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: … Continue reading "Other Mammal Orders"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Lagomorpha These are small to medium-sized herbivorous mammals found across much of the world, particularly in open landscapes such as grasslands, mountains and deserts. They are characterised by long hind legs adapted for running or jumping and by having two pairs of upper incisors — … Continue reading "Order Lagomorpha — Rabbits, Hares and Pikas"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Chiroptera This is the second-largest order of mammals after rodents. Bats are the only mammals capable of true powered flight, using wings formed from a thin membrane stretched between elongated fingers. Most bats are nocturnal and use echolocation to navigate and locate prey in the … Continue reading "Order Chiroptera — Bats"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Primates Primates include monkeys, apes, lemurs and their relatives. They are generally characterised by forward-facing eyes, flexible hands and feet with grasping digits, and relatively large brains compared with other mammals. Most species live in tropical forests and spend much of their time in the … Continue reading "Order Primates — Primates"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Rodentia Rodents are the largest order of mammals, accounting for roughly 40% of all living mammal species. They occur on every continent except Antarctica and occupy a wide range of habitats, from forests and grasslands to deserts and wetlands. They are characterised by a single … Continue reading "Order Rodentia — Rodents"
Read MoreChordates are animals that at some stage in their life cycle possess a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, gill slits, and a post‑anal tail. This phylum includes all vertebrates as well as two smaller groups: tunicates and lancelets. Chordates range from simple filter‑feeding marine animals to the most complex land vertebrates, including humans. Subdivision of … Continue reading "Phylum Chordata – Vertebrates & Relatives"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Artiodactyla Artiodactyla is an order that includes the even‑toed hoofed mammals as well as whales and dolphins. Most terrestrial members walk on two main toes and are plant‑eaters with specialised digestive systems, while the cetaceans are fully aquatic and adapted for life in water. Modern … Continue reading "Order Artiodactyla – Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans"
Read MoreKingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Carnivora Carnivores are mammals adapted to feeding mainly on other animals, with strong jaws and specialised teeth for cutting meat. Many species are strictly carnivorous, while others are more omnivorous and will also eat fruit or other plant material. The order includes a wide range … Continue reading "Order Carnivora — Carnivores"
Read MoreMammals are warm‑blooded animals with hair or fur that suckle their young. They first appeared over 200 million years ago and became the dominant land vertebrates after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Living mammals are divided into two subclasses: Prototheria and Theria. Prototherians include the egg-laying monotremes. Therians give birth to live young and are further … Continue reading "Class Mammalia — Mammals"
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