The Weird and Wonderful World of Mammals

Transition Year Biology

Mammal Evolution
The first mammals evolved from Therapsids "mammal-like reptiles" at the end of the Triassic period, and coexisted with dinosaurs throughout the Mesozoic Era. The Age of Mammals began about 65 million year ago, following the last Extinction Level Event (ELE) which wiped out the Dinosaurs. They began to evolve beyond their tiny, mouse like forms into the widely specialized species that populate the world today.

Mammal Evolution
The first true mammal was a small, shrew-like organism weighing about 2 grams that coexisted with Dinosaurs. Megazostrodon and Hadrocodium existed about 200 million years ago.
Megazostrodon

Hadrocodium

Mammal Categories
Today the mammals are divided into three reproductive categories - : Monotremes Marsupials Placentals

The Monotremes
The Monotremes are Egg-laying mammals and include the Echidna and Platypus.

The Masupials
In Marsupials the embryos are born very early and nurse from inside mothers pouch. Marsupials include the Kangaroo and Koala.

The Placentals
In the Placentals the Embryos develop inside the womb, receiving nutrients and Oxygen from the mother via the Placenta Newborns are then fed milk from mammary glands.

Insectivora
Small pointed teeth, adapted mainly for eating insects which include Moles, Shrews, Hedgehogs

Solenodon

Star Nosed Mole

Edentata
The Edentata have no teeth and include
Armadillos, Sloths and Anteaters.

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Sloth

Giant Anteater

Rodentia
Nearly 50% of mammals are rodents They do not have canine teeth, only two very larger incisors Almost all are herbivores - Mice, Squirrels, Beavers
Naked Mole Rat

Carnivora
This is a very diverse group of meat eaters All have highly developed canine teeth and include Wolves, Bears, Raccoons, Otters, Skunks, Mongoose, Cats
Brown Bear

Sea Otter

Chiroptera
Chiroptera have Forelimbs adapted for flight. They find prey by echolocation - Insectivorous Bats, Old World Fruit Bats.

Bumble Bee Bat

Dermoptera
This small order consists of only two living species known as flying lemurs or colugos. They have a lemur-like face, but are not related to the primates. They have no living relatives.

Sunda Colugo

Proboscidea
One living family the Elephants Nose and top lip are highly enlarged into a muscular trunk for grasping items

Lagomorpha
All Lagomorpha have large incisor teeth. Their hindlimbs larger than forelimbs and include Rabbits, Hares and Pikas.
Pika

Artiodactyla
They all have hooves with even-numbered toes Many of them are ruminants with a 4-chambered stomach including - Deer,
Giraffe, Cattle, Pig, Camel, Hippo

Appennine Chamois

Perissodactyla
This orders has odd-numbered toes and includes - Horses, Tapirs, Rhinoceros

Cetacea
The Cetacea have highly developed brains All have a dorsal blow-hole for breathing and include - Toothed Whales and Baleen
Whales.

Beluga Whale

Serenia
Aquatic mammals that breathe through their mouth and nose Herbivores - Manatees and Dugongs
Manatee

Dugong

Primata
Highly developed brains Often bipedal inlcudes - Lemurs, Monkeys,
Apes, Humans

Aye Aye

Probiscis Monkey

Mammal Orders

Insectivora Rodentia Edentata Serenia

Beluga Whale

Carnivora Primata Dermoptera Chiroptera

Cetacea Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Monetremata

Sea Otter

Star-Nosed Mole

Apennine Chamois Baiji dolphin Naked Mole Rat Bumble-Bee Bat Sunda Colugo Tarsier Tapir Proboscis Monkey Aye-Aye Echidna Platypus

Solenodon Giant Anteater Sloth Tapir Pink Fairy Armadillo

Dugong

Elephant Seal