Mammalian Adaptations

Mammalian Adaptations

MONOTREMES“Egg laying”

Duckbilled Platypus

Anteater

Echidna

Platypus/echidna Images from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

MARSUPIALSPremature babies develop in pouch

Most found in Australia/ New Guinea

• Kangaroo

• Wallaby

Image from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

MARSUPIALS

Only North American Marsupial

• Oppossum

PLACENTALEmbryos nourished inside mother by

placenta

95% of all mammals are placental

At least 18 orders

Image from: http://antro.palomar.edu/animal/default.htm

Specialized teeth vary with diet

Grass eaters have different teeth than carnivores

http://animaldiversity.ummzurich.edu/anat/tooth_introduction.html

INCISORS- cut

CANINES- grip, puncture, tear

PREMOLARS- shread, cut, grind

MOLARS- grind, crushImage from: http://antro.palomar.edu/animal/default.htm

BALEENThin keratin plates

that hang from the roof of the mouth and screen food from water

Baleen Image from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

EcholocationBats can fly without eyes, but NOT without

earsBats emit high frequency sound waves that bounce off objects

Can determine size, distance, direction, speed

ECHOLOCATION

• Also used by some kinds of whales

Image from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

RUMEN

In cud chewers like cows, sheep, goats, giraffes

First chamber of stomach containing bacteria to digest plants

CECUM

In NON cud chewers like horses, rabbits, rodents, elephants

Small pouch off small intestine containing bacteria to digest plants

Human appendix is vestigial cecum

PRIMATESLarger Brain

Grasping hand with fingernails instead of claws

2 forward facing eyesIncludes:•Gorillas•Chimps•Monkeys•Lemurs

Gorilla Image from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

PRIMATES

Humans are primates too!

PINNIPEDS• Carnivores

• streamlined body

• flipper limbed

Seals WalrusesSea lions

UNGULATESMammals with Hooves

Artiodactyla Even number of toes Moose, bison, deer, elk, goats,

pigs, camels, sheep, cows

PerissodactylaOdd number of toesHorses, zebras, rhinos

CETACEANSIncludes:

whales, dolphins,

porpoises

PROBOSCIDEAProboscis:

Boneless trunked nose

Only 2 speciesAsian elephant

African elephant

Image from:

http://www.lth3.k12.il.us/tworivers/Pet%20Projects/steve/classification%20of%20animals%202/Page_39_Mammax.html

CHIROPTERA

BATS

Only mammals that can fly