Classification of Mammals Flashcards

Classification of Mammals

• Mammals belong to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, and Class Mammalia.
• Approximately 5,000 species of living mammals exist today.
• Characteristics of mammals include body hair, three middle ear bones (malleus, incus, stapes), and nourishment of young through milk produced by mammary glands.

Major Mammal Orders

• Major subclasses of mammals include Eutheria (placental mammals), Metatheria (marsupials), and Prototheria (monotremes).

Subclass Eutheria

• Contains placental mammals and has various orders with distinct traits.

Order Artiodactyla

• Comprises even-toed ungulates, around 210 species.
• "Artiodactyl" means "even-number finger or toe," primarily herbivores (Example: Deer).

Order Carnivora

• Includes approximately 270 species known as carnivores.
• Features carnassial teeth important for slicing food (Example: Cats).

Order Cetacea

• Features the largest marine mammals, including blue whales.
• Divided into toothed whales and baleen whales (Examples: Whales, dolphins, porpoises).

Order Lagomorpha

• Consists of two families: Ochotonidae (pikas) and Leporidae (hares and rabbits).
• Mostly herbivorous.

Order Perissodactyla

• Comprises odd-toed ungulates, with the name meaning "odd-number finger or toe."
• Herbivores like rhinoceroses.

Order Pholidota

• Known commonly as "scaly anteater," primarily carnivorous (Example: Pangolin).

Order Primates

• Encompasses about 200 species, including both apes and monkeys.

Order Proboscidea

• Home to the largest land animals, with the African elephant being a prime example.
• The term "proboscis" refers to the long nose.

Order Sirenia

• Exclusively herbivorous, includes marine mammals like manatees.

Order Edentata

• Herbivorous order featuring animals such as sloths.

Order Tubulidentata

• Features aardvarks, with an average captive lifespan of 10 years and primarily carnivorous diet.

Subclass Metatheria

• Encompasses marsupials, which are characterized by their pouch for offspring.

Order Didelphimorphia

• Known as opossums, which are omnivores.

Order Dasyuromorphia

• Features carnivorous species like numbats.

Order Peramelemorphia

• Includes bandicoots, which are omnivorous.

Order Diprotodontia

• Comprising kangaroos as representative herbivores.

Subclass Prototheria

• Represents the monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals.

Order Monotremata

• Family Ornithorhynchidae includes the duck-billed platypus, known for its carnivorous diet.

Order Monotremata

• Family Tachyglossidae consists of spiny anteaters, also carnivorous.