Class Mammalia:

Characters:

The term “mammae” refers to the mammary glands or breast. Mammals are highly advanced,
homeothermic/endothermic, terrestrial vertebrates. Some like whales, dolphins, otters etc.,
are secondarily aquatic. Mammals are believed to have evolved from synapsid reptiles called
Therapsids some 260 m years ago

Body: is differentiated as a head, neck, trunk and a tail. Tail is absent in humans

Exoskeleton: may be hair/fur/wool etc.,

Endoskeleton: Bones and Cartilages

Locomotion: by pentadactyl forelimbs and hind limbs. In majority, locomotion is tetrapedal

and in some it is bipedal

Digestive system: Well developed, digestion is extracellular. Associated structures/organs of

the digestive system are teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, pancreas etc. Teeth heterodont,
Diphiodont, polyphiodont.

The alimentary canal is highly specialized in many kinds of mammals. In general,

specializations of the gut accompany herbivorous habits. The intestines of herbivores are
typically elongate, and the stomach may also be specialized. Subdivision of the gut allows
areas of differing physiological environments for the activities of different sorts
of enzymes and symbiotic bacteria, which aid the animal by breaking down
certain compounds that are otherwise undigestible. In ruminant artiodactyls, such
as antelopes, deer, and cattle, the stomach has up to four chambers, each with a particular
function in the processing of vegetable material.

A cecum is common in many herbivores. The cecum is a blind sac at the far end of the small
intestine where complex compounds such as cellulose are acted upon by symbiotic bacteria.
The vermiform appendix is a diverticulum of the cecum. The appendix is rich in lymphoid
tissue and in many mammals is concerned with defense against toxic bacterial products.

Hares and rabbits, mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa), and some insectivores exhibit a

phenomenon of reingestion called coprophagy, in which at intervals specialized fecal pellets
are produced. These pellets are eaten and passed through the alimentary canal a second time.
Where known to be present, this pattern seems to be obligatory.

Reingestion primarily occurs in members of the shrew, rodent, and rabbit groups; however,

the behavior has been observed to a lesser degree in other groups, including canines. The
process appears to allow the animal to absorb in the upper gut vitamins produced by the
microflora of the lower gut but not absorbable there.

Respiratory system: by well-developed lungs which is lobed.

Circulatory system: System well developed, closed type with four chambered heart. Matured
RBCs are biconcave and Enucleated. Aorta bends to the left hence called left aortic arch.

Excretory system: System well developed with bean shaped kidneys. Urea is the chief
nitrogenous waste, hence ureotelic.

Nervous system: Well developed with CNS, ANS and PNS. 12 pairs of cranial nerves
present, sense organs well developed.

Reproductive system: well developed. Sexes are separate, only sexual reproduction occur,
majority of them are viviparous(placental). Some are oviparous (egg laying) and some are
marsupials(pouched).

Unique characters of mammals:

• Presence of mammary glands in females to feed young ones

• Presence of external ear pinnae

• Presence of a muscular diaphragm separates thorax from abdomen

• Presence of Corpus collosum, a nervous bridge that connects left and right
cerebral hemispheres

• Presence of Sweat glands, sebaceous glands, scent glands in the skin

• Zygomatic arch- a bony bridge that supports the cheek region of the face.

• Dentary bone in each half of lower jaw/mandible

• 7 cervical vertebrae, except manatees

• Dentition- thecodont, heterodont and diphyodont

• Exoskeleton as hair or fur or wool

• Matured RBCs are biconcave and enucleated

• Presence of left aortic arch

• Formation of placenta

• Presence of scrotum in males- to accommodate testes

• Presence of ear ossicles- Malleus, Incus and Stapes

• Corpora quadrigemina- two inferior and two superior colliculli, that sit on the
quadrigeminal plate on the posterior surface of the midbrain and is involved in
perception/visual processing.

• Viviparity-Giving birth to young ones.

 • Presence of Tympanic bulla- The Tympanic bulla/ auditory bulla is a hollow bony
the middle and inner ear. In most species, it is formed by the tympanic part of the
temporal bone.

• Presence of Acoelus verterbrae- No cavity in the centrum/body of the vertebra

Classification:

Class Mammalia is classified into 3 sub class, they are

Sub class- Prototheria/Monotremata/ornithodelphia/ Egg laying mammals,

Ex: Ornithorhyncus(Duck Bill Platypus), Echidna (Spiny Ant eater)

Sub class- Metatheria/Marsupialia/Pouched mammlals, Ex: Macropus (Kangaroo), Koala

Bear, Wombat, Wallabies, Tasmanian Devil.

Sub class- Eutheria/True Placental mammals- has 17 orders

Order: Insectivora- Mole, shrew, hedgehog

Order: Chiroptera- Bats

Order: Dermoptera- Flying lemurs

Order: Pinnipedia- Seals, Sea lions

Order: Edentata- sloth, armadillo, anteaters

Order: Pholidota- Manis (Pangolin),

Order: Tubilidentata- Aardvark

Order: Primata- lemur, Ape, monkey, man

Order: Rodentia- Rats, Funambulus (Squirrel), porcupine

Order: Lagomorpha- Hare, Rabbit

Order: Cetacea- Whales, dolphin, porpoise

Order: Sirenia- Dugong, manatis commonly called “sea cows”

Order: Carnivora- Dog, Wolf,

Order: Hyracoidea- Hyrax

Order: Proboscidia- Elephants

Order: Artiodactyla- pigs, cow, sheep, goat, giraffe

Order: Perissodactyla- horse, donkey, zebra, rhino