Mammal Classification Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the CLASS Mammalia characterized by?

Teeth

Hair

Endothermy

All of the above (correct)

What defines the SUBCLASS Prototheria?

Extinct mammals

What does the SUBCLASS Theria include?

All living mammals today

What are INFRACLASS Ornithodelphia known for?

Egg-laying mammals Signup and view all the answers

What defines INFRACLASS Metatheria?

Marsupials (pouched mammals) Signup and view all the answers

What are Eutherians?

Placental mammals Signup and view all the answers

List characteristics of ORDER Eulipotyphla.

Insect-eating mammals and most primitive placental mammals Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes ORDER Chiroptera?

Only true flying mammals Signup and view all the answers

What is ORDER Carnivora known for?

Flesh-eating mammals Signup and view all the answers

What defines FAMILY Canidae?

Dogs and relatives Signup and view all the answers

What do members of FAMILY Felidae have?

Rounded, flat faces Signup and view all the answers

What is FAMILY Ursidae commonly known as?

Bears and relatives Signup and view all the answers

What are animals in FAMILY Procyonidae known as?

Raccoons and coatis Signup and view all the answers

Which animals belong to FAMILY Mustelidae?

Skunks, weasels, otters, badgers, minks, and wolverines Signup and view all the answers

What defines SUPERFAMILY Pinnipedia?

Sea lions, seals, walruses Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes ORDER Perissodactyla?

Odd-toed, hoofed mammals Signup and view all the answers

What type of mammals belong to ORDER Artiodactyla?

Even-toed, hoofed mammals Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about ORDER Cetacea?

Aquatic mammals with modified forelimbs Signup and view all the answers

What does SUPERORDER Xenarthra include?

Armadillos, sloths, and anteaters Signup and view all the answers

What is distinctive about ORDER Cingulata?

Body covered in armored plates Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of ORDER Pilosa?

Sloths and anteaters Signup and view all the answers

What do members of ORDER Rodentia have?

Gnawing mammals with continuously growing incisors Signup and view all the answers

What defines FAMILY Sciuridae?

Squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs Signup and view all the answers

What is distinctive about FAMILY Muridae?

Rats, mice, and relatives Signup and view all the answers

What defines FAMILY Castoridae?

Beavers Signup and view all the answers

What are FAMILY Hystricidae commonly known as?

Porcupines Signup and view all the answers

What do mammals in FAMILY Hydrochaeridae include?

Capybaras, Guinea pigs Signup and view all the answers

What is ORDER PRIMATES known for?

Monkeys, apes, and humans Signup and view all the answers

What are the unique features of ORDER Lagomorpha?

Have constantly growing incisors and are herbivores Signup and view all the answers

What defines ORDER Sirenia?

Sea cows (manatees, dugongs) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes ORDER Proboscidea?

Proboscis (trunk, nose) mammals Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mammal Classification Overview

Mammals belong to the class Mammalia characterized by hair, teeth, endothermy, and viviparity.

Subclass Differentiation

Prototheria: Represents extinct mammals with a simple level of complexity.
Theria: Encompasses all living mammals today, divided into three infraclasses.

Infraclass Characteristics

Ornithodelphia: Egg-laying mammals, known as monotremes, with only one living order.
Metatheria: Includes marsupials, which are viviparous and possess pouches.
Eutheria: Comprised of placental mammals that are viviparous, representing what is typically considered "normal" mammals.

Orders of Mammals

Eulipotyphla: Primitive placental mammals, primarily insect-eaters, including shrews, hedgehogs, and moles.
Chiroptera: Unique for being true flying mammals, with wings that are modified forelimbs (bats).
Carnivora: Flesh-eating mammals including dogs, cats, bears, and weasels.

Families Within Orders

Canidae (Dogs and Relatives): Long limbs, enhanced olfactory sense, and large ears.
Felidae (Cats and Relatives): Notable for their facial structure characterized by rounded faces, large eyes, and ears.
Ursidae (Bears and Relatives): Recognized by stocky legs, short tails, and forward-facing eyes.
Procyonidae (Raccoons and Coatis): Medium to long tails with distinctive facial markings.
Mustelidae (Weasels, Skunks, Otters, etc.): Often hunted for their distinctive fur.

Superfamily and Additional Orders

Pinnipedia: Includes marine mammals with flipper-like limbs, such as seals and sea lions.
Perissodactyla: Odd-toed hoofed mammals, with only 18 species, including horses and rhinos.
Artiodactyla: Even-toed hoofed mammals, many being herbivorous ruminants, including cattle and deer.
Cetacea: Aquatic mammals characterized by modified forelimbs and no hind limbs, including whales and dolphins.

Unique Superorders and Orders

Xenarthra: Features mammals with skeletal adaptations and teeth that lack enamel, such as armadillos and sloths.
Cingulata: Armadillos, characterized by armored plates and unique teeth structure.
Pilosa: Comprising sloths and anteaters, recognized by their specialized limbs for climbing or digging.
Rodentia: Known for their continuously growing incisors and diastema, providing adaptations for gnawing.
Primates: Highly developed brains with a large cerebral cortex, showcasing arboreal adaptations.
Lagomorpha: Similar to rodents with an additional set of incisors, comprising only herbivorous species like rabbits.
Sirenia: Large aquatic mammals without hind limbs, forelimbs are adapted as flippers.
Proboscidea: Features trunk-limbed mammals, recognized as the largest living terrestrial mammals.

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Description

Test your knowledge of mammal classification with these flashcards. The quiz covers various classes, subclasses, and infraclasses within Mammalia. Learn key characteristics and definitions to strengthen your understanding of this diverse group of animals.