Class Mammalia
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Transcript of Class Mammalia
CharacteristicsFur or hair
Sweat glands
Mammary glands (females)Most important mammalian
characteristic
Diaphragm for breathing
Use various combinations of fur, hair and subcutaneous fat to conserve body heat
Three main categories1: Placentals
The young develop inside female uterus attached to a placenta = largest group
Three main categories2: Marsupials
Young are tiny an underdeveloped; they crawl to the female pouch, attach to a nipple an finish development there
Three main categories3: Monotremes
The young develop inside of eggs (similar to reptile eggs)
Most primitive group, 3 species left
(platypus and 2 kinds of echidna)
Adaptations for movementLand
Well developed muscles and boneSkeleton is also highly flexibleLimb structure permits ease of motion
and speedCat family: has grasping claws for
climbing and holding preySnowshoe hair: elongated hind limbs for
hopping in the snowGrazing animals have modified toes to
help with speed
WaterWhales, dolphins and porpoises
Front limbs have become flippers
Tail propels through water
Streamlined body allows for speed
Blowhole instead of mouth
Otters and seals have similar adaptations but no blowhole
Digestive system:ruminants (cow, moose, deer,
camels)4 chambered stomach
First two chambers for bacterial fermentation
Food regurgitated for more mechanical breakdown before entering last two chambers
Last two chambers for chemical digestion
This is necessary because they live off of grass which is hard to fully digest