Characteristics and Classification of Mammals COMPLETE
Definition of mammals is derived from Latin "mamma" which means nipples. The word was first coined by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. In meaning, mammals are animals that have mammary glands that play a role in giving milk to their children. These animals can be found starting in the oceans, mountains, forests, snowy areas, agricultural areas and even urban areas.
Based on data from the ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), the number of mammal species is around 5,852. This number could be shrinking due to extinction and also increase when there are new species found.
Based on data from the ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), the number of mammal species is around 5,852. This number could be shrinking due to extinction and also increase when there are new species found.
Characteristic features
Mammals have the main characteristic of the presence of mammary glands in individual females, while other mammalian characteristics are:
- Temperature regulation including endotherms / homoids
- Type of heterodont teeth
- Has hair on his body
- Has mammary glands
- Have vertebral bones
- Has a diaphragm
- Has a heart with 4 spaces
- Has sebaceous oil glands
- Has one lower jaw bone
- Has three bones in the middle ear (stapes, incus, malleus)
- Having a brain with a relatively large capacity
- Breathing with the lungs
- Male and female sex separate
- Breed by giving birth (vivipar)
Taxonomy
According to Vaughan et al. (2000), the mammalian classification consists of 26 orders and 136 families. The following is a classification of mammals in the world which are summarized in table form.
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