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.

Oct 6, 2022 · What animals are Mammals? There are nearly 6,500 publicly recognized mammal species with more being discovered all the time. Popular mammal examples include cats, dogs, horses , elephants, whales, and humans.

Apr 1, 2025 · Every major habitat has been exploited by mammals that swim, fly, run, burrow, glide, or climb. There are more than 5,500 species of living mammals, arranged in about 125 families and as many as 27–29

Nov 22, 2023 · Mammals are warm-blooded, hair-bearing vertebrates that produce milk. Mammals represent a diverse and fascinating class of animals, encompassing a wide range of species from tiny shrews to humans to the colossal blue whale.

Mammals include humans and all other animals that are warm-blooded vertebrates (vertebrates have backbones) with hair. They feed their young with milk and have a more well-developed brain than...

Mammals are among the most adaptable animals on the planet. They are found on every continent and in every ocean, and range in size from tiny bumblebee bats to enormous blue whales.

Sep 9, 2021 · There are around 6,400 living mammal species, divided into three main groups: monotremes, marsupials (Metatheria), and placental mammals (Eutheria). Monotremes are egg-laying mammals, while both placentals and marsupials give birth to live young.

Feb 24, 2017 · Mammal facts, pictures & information: the ultimate guide to mammals. What is a mammal? How did mammals evolve? What is the class Mammalia?

The Division of Mammals houses a world-class collection of roughly 590,000 preserved specimens. This collection supports a wide range of scientific research by resident staff and associates, as well as numerous scientists who visit each year. Divisional collection management staff preserve, conserve, and document our specimens as part of the ...

Mar 26, 2025 · First, female mammals produce milk to feed their young. This trait is unique to mammals: none of the other vertebrate groups make milk. Milk comes from special mammary glands in female mammals only. Since mammals nurse their young, the mother must stick around after a baby mammal is born. For this reason, mammal mothers are very involved parents.