Types of Mammals
Mammals appeared over 200 million years ago during the dinosaur era. While initially small, their evolution surged after the extinction of dinosaurs around 66 million years ago, resulting in the development of larger forms. Distinguished by warm-bloodedness and fur, mammals thrive in a variety of habitats worldwide, spanning from icy polar regions to lush tropical forests. Generally, mammals fall under the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, and class Mammalia. The widely accepted categorization of mammals is based on three major reproductive methods:
- Monotremes Mammals
- Marsupial Mammals
- Placental Mammals
Monotremes |
Marsupials |
Placental mammals |
---|---|---|
Give birth to live, fully developed young Examples-Opossum and koala, Dog and anteater, Echidna and platypus |
Give birth to live, still developing young Examples-Dog and anteater, Echidna and platypus, Opossum and koala |
Give birth to live, fully developed young Examples-Opossum and kangaroo, Humans and dogs, Echidna and platypus |
Give birth to live, still developing young |
Give birth to live, fully developed young |
Give birth to live, still developing young |
Lay eggs |
Lay eggs |
Lay eggs |
Also Read: Classification Of Animals
Mammals
Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates that have four limbs, hairs, and complex brains. They also have mammary glands that produce milk to feed their young. Mammals can be classified into three groups: egg-laying monotremes, marsupials, and placentals. Some examples of mammals include Humans, Dogs, Cats, Whales, Dolphins, Bats, and Elephants. In this article, we will discuss mammals and how they are classified based on their characteristics with some of the examples.
Table of Content
- What are Mammals?
- Characteristics of Mammals
- Types of Mammals
- Classification Of Mammals
- General Classification of Mammals
- Example of Mammals