Page 68 - Mammal (DK Eyewitness)

Mammal classification

THERE ARE 19 groups of classification for
mammals. Each group, called an order, is shown
here with one example illustrated. Some orders
contain hundreds of species, while others only
have one. The way mammals are classified PROBOSCIDEA
changes all the time as scientists discover more There are only two species
alive today:
of proboscidea
about the evolution of mammals and their the Indian elephant (Elephas
relationships with each other. maximus) and the African
elephant (Loxodonta africana).
The now extinct mammoth
once belonged to this group.
MARSUPIALIA Elephants are rare in that
Traditionally, marsupials are they live by a female-led
classified in a single order, but social structure.
some scientists think that they Elephant
should be divided into seven. Four
of these orders are native to
Australia and neighboring islands,
while the other three are found in
North and South America. Marsupials
carry their young in an abdominal
pouch called a marsupium.

Most kangaroos
cannot walk, but
hop using their
hind legs.

PlNNIPEDIA
Pinnipedia comes from the Latin
for “fin footed” and covers 33
HYRACOIDEA species of seals, sea lions and fur
Although they resemble rodents or rabbits seals, and walruses. Pinnipeds
MONOTREMATA externally, hyracoid, or hyraxes, are actually spend the majority of their lives
Monotremes include three species of egg-laying ungulates, or hoofed mammals. This links in water and have bodies that are
mammals: the platypus and two species of them to groups such as horses, although they adapted to move easily through
echidna, or spiny anteaters. Monotremes are also share characteristics with groups such as an aquatic habitat. They cannot
only found in Australia, Tasmania, and New elephants, sea cows, and aardvarks! There are move very well on land.
Guinea. Monotreme species have not altered seven species of hyrax.
significantly in the past two million years.
Dermoptera means INSECTIVORA
“skin-wing.” Members of this order feed mostly on insects
and tend to be small. Numbering around
375 species, this group includes
hedgehogs, moles, and shrews.
Insectivores have well developed
hearing, smell, and touch, rather
than vision. They are found
everywhere except Australia.

DERMOPTERA CARNIVORA
This group contains the colugos, Most carnivores are meat-eating land
with just two species, both from mammals. They can be recognized by
Southeast Asia. Sometimes called Gerbil their teeth, which are shaped for grasping
flying lemurs because they RODENTIA flesh and slicing it up. Carnivores tend to
resemble lemurs, colugos do not Rodents have a pair of front teeth that continue to grow be medium-sized animals with excellent
fly, but rather glide on flaps of throughout life. They use these teeth to gnaw through senses. Numbering around 270 species,
skin. Colugos are herbivores and their food, and through anything in their way. Rats, carnivores include foxes, dogs, cats,
have very sharp teeth. squirrels, hamster, mice, and gerbils are all rodents. wolves, and bears.

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