Mammals Vol 7

???? Mammals are a diverse class of vertebrate animals known scientifically as Mammalia. They are characterized by several key features that set them apart from other animal groups:

???? Core Characteristics:
Warm-blooded (endothermic), maintaining a constant internal body temperature.
Hair or fur at some point in life—even marine mammals like whales have hair in early development.
Mammary glands, which produce milk to nourish their young.
Live birth is common (except monotremes like the platypus and echidnas, which lay eggs).
A four-chambered heart and a diaphragm to help with efficient breathing.

???? Where They Live:
Mammals inhabit every continent and ecosystem:
Terrestrial: Forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains.
Aquatic: Oceans (like dolphins and whales), rivers (like otters).
Aerial: Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight.

???? Types of Mammals (with examples):
Primates – humans, apes, monkeys.
Carnivores – lions, bears, wolves.
Rodents – mice, rats, squirrels.
Ungulates – deer, cows, horses.
Marsupials – kangaroos, koalas, opossums.
Cetaceans – whales, dolphins, porpoises.
Chiropterans – bats.
Monotremes – platypus, echidna (egg-laying mammals).

???? Intelligence and Behavior:
Many mammals show advanced cognition—problem-solving, communication, tool use, and social structures. Some, like dolphins, elephants, and great apes, rival human-level reasoning in some tasks.

???? Diets:
Mammals can be:
Herbivores (plant-eaters): elephants, cows, giraffes.
Carnivores (meat-eaters): tigers, wolves, orcas.
Omnivores (both): bears, raccoons, humans@Predrag0007