The basic mammalian body type is
quadruped, and most mammals use their four extremities for
terrestrial locomotion; but in some, the extremities are adapted for
life at sea, in
the air,
in trees,
underground, or
on two legs. Mammals range in size from the 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in)
bumblebee bat to the 30 m (98 ft)
blue whale—possibly the largest animal to have ever lived. Maximum lifespan varies from two years for the shrew to 211 years for the
bowhead whale. All modern mammals give birth to live young, except the five species of
monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. The most species-rich group of mammals, the
infraclass called
placentals, have a
placenta, which enables the feeding of the fetus during
gestation.
Domestication of many types of mammals by humans played a major role in the
Neolithic Revolution, and resulted in
farming replacing
hunting and gathering as the primary source of food for humans. This led to a major restructuring of human societies from nomadic to sedentary, with more co-operation among larger and larger groups, and ultimately the development of the first
civilizations. Domesticated mammals provided, and continue to provide, power for transport and agriculture, as well as food (
meat and
dairy products),
fur, and
leather. Mammals are also
hunted and raced for sport, kept as
pets and
working animals of various types, and are used as
model organisms in science. Mammals have been depicted in
art since
Paleolithic times, and appear in literature, film, mythology, and religion. Decline in numbers and
extinction of many mammals is primarily driven by human
poaching and
habitat destruction, primarily
deforestation. (Full article...)
The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the Finback Whale or Razorback or Common Rorqual, is a marine
mammal belonging to the suborder of
baleen whales. It is the second largest whale and the second largest living animal after the
Blue Whale, growing to nearly 27 meters (88 ft) long. Long and slender, the Fin Whale's body is brownish-grey with a paler underside. There are at least two distinct subspecies: the Northern Fin Whale of the North Atlantic, and the larger Antarctic Fin Whale of the
Southern Ocean. It is found in all the world's major oceans, from
polar to
tropical waters. It is absent only from waters close to the
ice pack at both the
north and
south poles and relatively small areas of water away from the open ocean. The highest population density occurs in
temperate and cool waters. Its food consists of small schooling fish,
squid and
crustaceans including
mysids and
krill.
...from its discovery by
John Edward Gray in 1850 until a re-assessment in 1981, the Clymene Dolphin was regarded as sub-species of the Spinner Dolphin.
...the Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is a recently recognised species of dolphin first described in 2005.
An Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) eating a nut in
St. James's Park,
London. Although native to eastern
North America, the species has been
introduced into a variety of locations. In
England, gray squirrels have mostly replaced native
Red Squirrels and have no natural predators, which has added to their rapid population growth and has led to the species being classed as a
pest.
A domesticated yak at
Yamdrok Lake in Tibet. The animals are important to Tibetan culture, and have been kept for thousands of years. The yaks are a method of transportation and serve as
beasts of burden. Their feces are a source of fuel, and their milk can be used for
butter, which is then made into
sculptures or consumed.
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) is a species of
sloth from
Central and
South America named for the German naturalist
Karl Hoffmann. This solitary, largely
nocturnal and
arboreal animal, is found in mature and secondary rainforests and deciduous forests. Adults range from 54 to 72 cm (21 to 28 in) in head-body length, and weigh from 2.1 to 9 kg (4.6 to 19.8 lb). Females are larger on average than males, although with considerable overlap in size.
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a
chipmunk species native to eastern North America. Like other chipmunks, they transport food in pouches in their cheeks, as seen here. They eat bulbs, seeds, fruits, nuts, green plants, mushrooms, insects, worms, and bird eggs.
Male lion (Panthera leo) and cub eating a
Cape buffalo in Northern Sabi Sand,
South Africa. Lions are true
predators who can require an average of up to seven kilograms (15 lbs) of meat daily to survive. Large
mammals comprise an important part of a lion's diet.
Zootomical terms of location overlap considerably with terms used in
human anatomy. In animals, the head end is called the "cranial end" and the tail end is the "caudal end". The side of the body normally oriented upwards is the "dorsal" side; the opposite side, typically the one closest to the ground when walking on all legs, swimming or flying, is the "ventral" side.
A portrait of a male
impala, showing its horns. Horns consist of
bone cores surrounded by a covering of
keratin and other
proteins, and are often curved or spiral in shape. Most horned animal species have one pair, though some may have more.
A portrait of a cheetah at
Whipsnade Zoo in
Bedfordshire. Cheetahs have small and streamlined heads. Their ears are small, short, and rounded, marked by black patches on the back and tawny edges. Their high-set eyes have round
pupils, while their whiskers are fine and inconspicuous. Their faces have unique "tear streak" markings that may serve to reduce glare or define facial expressions.
The common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is one of three species of
wombat. It is native to south-eastern mainland
Australia and
Tasmania, and grows to an average of 98 cm (39 in) long and a weight of 26 kg (57 lb). It is solitary and lives in an underground burrow.
A giraffe extending its tongue to feed. Its tongue, lips and palate are tough enough to deal with sharp thorns in trees. Giraffes prefer trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia. A giraffe requires less food than typical
grazing animals, typically consuming 65 pounds (29 kg) of leaves and twigs daily, because the foliage it eats has more concentrated nutrition and it has a more efficient
digestive system.
The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is a
species of
hedgehog found in a wide range of
habitat types in
western Europe. It is a well-known species, and a favourite in European
gardens, both for its endearing appearance and its preference for eating a range of garden pests. While populations are currently stable across much of its range, it is thought to be declining severely in
Great Britain.
The Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator) is a
tamarin native to the
Amazon Basin and neighboring parts of
South America. It was allegedly named for its similarity to
William II, the last
German Emperor. The name was first intended as a joke, but has become the official scientific name.
This is a list of recognized content, updated weekly by
JL-Bot (
talk·contribs) (typically on Saturdays). There is no need to edit the list yourself. If an article is missing from the list, make sure it is
tagged (e.g. {{
WikiProject Mammals}}) or
categorized correctly and wait for the next update. See
WP:RECOG for configuration options.
A complete list of scientific WikiProjects can be found
here. See also
Wikispecies, a Wikimedia project dedicated to classification of biological species.