Mammals, WED-ZOR
Mammals are distinguished by their ability to produce milk. The class Mammalia boasts tremendous diversity in form and habit, and different types of mammals can be wildly different from one another in physical appearance. Living kinds of mammals range in size from a bat weighing less than a gram to the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale, which reaches a length or more than 30 metres (100 feet) and a weight of 180 metric tons (nearly 200 short [U.S.] tons).
Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title
weasel, any of various small carnivores with very elongated slender bodies. Most live in the Northern Hemisphere......
Weddell seal, (Leptonychotes weddellii), nonmigratory earless seal (family Phocidae) found around the South Pole,......
Weimaraner, sporting dog breed developed in the early 19th century by German nobles of the court of Weimar. First......
Welsh Corgi, either of two breeds (Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi) of affectionate dogs developed......
Welsh pony, breed of small horse popular as a child’s or an adult’s mount. A hardy breed that developed in the......
Welsh terrier, breed of terrier native to Wales, where it has been used as a hunter of foxes, otters, and badgers.......
West Highland white terrier, a short-legged dog standing 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm) tall and weighing 13 to......
whale, any of the larger species of aquatic mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. The term whale can be used......
Elephants use their trunks as multifunctional appendages for a variety of tasks essential to their survival and......
Cheetahs are carnivores, which means that their diet consists primarily of meat. They hunt a variety of animals,......
Giraffes, as browsers, primarily feed on new, tender shoots and leaves of trees, with a particular fondness for......
Whales have a diverse diet that varies significantly between species, primarily depending on whether they are baleen......
The largest animal on Earth is the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). It is also the largest animal to have ever......
The sperm whale is the loudest animal on Earth. These majestic creatures can produce sounds that reach an astonishing......
Cheetahs and leopards are both large cats with dark spots and yellowish coats, but they have distinctly different......
You may have been taught that there are only two species of elephants: the African elephant and the Asian elephant.......
It’s easy to understand why people confuse bison and buffalo. Both are large, horned, oxlike animals of the Bovidae......
Llamas and alpacas have been used by humans for transportation and fleece production for a few thousand years.......
Monkeys and apes are both primates, which means they’re both part of the human family tree. As distinguished relatives,......
If you’ve ever watched Looney Tunes, you may have noticed that the words bunny (which typically refers to young......
While river otters and sea otters might appear similar at first glance, the two exhibit many striking differences......
Are seals and sea lions the same animal? Technically, they are in the same taxonomical suborder of pinnipeds (Pinnipedia),......
whippet, hound breed developed in mid-19th-century England to chase rabbits for sport in an arena. The breed was......
white tiger, colour variant of the Bengal tiger (Pantheria tigris tigris), the Siberian tiger (P. tigris altaica),......
white-tailed deer, (Odocoileus virginianus), common American deer of the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla) that......
white-toothed shrew, (genus Crocidura), any of 164 species of mouse-sized African and Eurasian insectivores making......
Amazon river dolphins, also known as botos, are often pink due to a combination of factors, including their diet,......
Black cats are considered unlucky in some cultures because of superstitious beliefs that have been passed down......
The name Boxer is derived from the dog’s unique behavior during play and combat, which is reminiscent of a human......
Dalmatians are associated with firefighters because their temperament made them friendly companions for the horses......
Dogs are loyal due to their evolutionary history, domestication process, and the strong bonds they form with humans.......
An elephant’s large ears serve several purposes. Thermoregulation—an organism’s maintenance of its own body temperature......
Orcas are called killer whales because of their reputation as powerful predators in the marine world. The name......
“Sloth” is considered one of the seven deadly sins because, according to Catholic tradition, it hinders spiritual......
Although cuteness can be a matter of personal preference, people tend to find young mammals cute and adorable,......
Beavers are quite the clever architects when it comes to safeguarding their homes. They build dams to raise the......
Cats blink slowly as a form of nonverbal communication, often interpreted as a sign of trust and affection toward......
Cats clean themselves frequently because of a combination of health benefits and social behaviors. Cats are meticulous......
An aversion to water is one of the most well-known characteristics of household cats. However, this isn’t true......
Cats have slit pupils primarily to enhance their ability to see in varying light conditions. They are crepuscular......
Cats have whiskers primarily for tactile sensing, which is crucial for their survival and daily activities. Whiskers,......
Cats are drawn to boxes primarily because these enclosed spaces offer a sense of safety and comfort. By nature......
The aromatic leaves of the catnip (Nepeta cataria), a herb of the mint family, are known to be particularly exciting......
Cats are naturally inclined to use scratching posts because it fulfills several instinctual needs and behaviors.......
Cats often open their mouths after smelling something because of a behavior known as the flehmen response. It’s......
While purring is often associated with a cat’s contentment, such as when they are being petted or snuggled up in......
Cat person? How many pictures of your cat sleeping have you got on your phone? A lot, right? They are so cute when......
There may be several reasons why dogs turn around several times before they lie down. Since dogs are intelligent......
Dogs eat grass for several reasons, and while the exact motivations can vary, there are a few common theories that......
Though poop is certainly not a staple food for any human, it may come as no surprise that poop is a common part......
Dogs wag their tails primarily as a form of communication, allowing them to express a range of emotions. Tail wagging......
The long neck of a giraffe (genus Giraffa) is a classic example of adaptation, which is the process by which a......
Chest beating is a powerful tool in the gorilla’s communication arsenal. Both males and females engage in this......
Horses need horseshoes to protect their hooves from wear and tear on hard or rough surfaces. When horses walk on......
Some consider this a trick question. That’s because horses actually doze while on their feet and lie down for REM......
Llamas spit for a number of reasons. When a llama feels threatened, it might spit to protect itself or to maintain......
Although a larger size normally indicates greater longevity among most mammals, dogs tend to follow a different......
According to the American Kennel Club, "wet dog smell" is not due to the dog itself but to the yeast and bacteria......
Whale songs serve as a means of communication among individuals and groups. These vocalizations help whales share......
There’s nothing quite so interesting as the social interactions in the wolf pack. Wolves live in packs of about......
There are several theories about why zebras have stripes. Scientists believe that one of the main reasons is camouflage......
Touching a manatee is illegal in the United States. The ban’s aim is to protect these vulnerable marine mammals......
When 18th-century zoologist George Shaw published the first scientific description of a platypus, many of his contemporaries......
wildcat, (species Felis silvestris), a small wild member of the cat family (Felidae) native to Eurasia and Africa.......
wolf, any of two species of wild doglike carnivores. The gray, or timber, wolf (Canis lupus) is the better known.......
wolverine, (Gulo gulo), member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) that lives in cold northern latitudes of North......
wombat, (family Vombatidae), any of three large terrestrial species of Australian marsupials. Like woodchucks,......
wood mouse, (genus Apodemus), any of about 20 species of small-bodied rodents found from northern Europe eastward......
woodland vole, (Microtus pinetorum), a small mouselike rodent of the eastern United States that is well adapted......
woodrat, (genus Neotoma), any of 23 species of medium-sized North American and Central American rodents. Some species......
woolly mammoth, (Mammuthus primigenius), extinct species of elephant found in fossil deposits of the Pleistocene......
woolly monkey, any of five species of densely furred South American primates found in rainforests of the western......
woolly opossum, (subfamily Caluromyinae), any of five species of arboreal New World marsupials (family Didelphidae).......
woolly rhinoceros, (genus Coelodonta), either of two extinct species of rhinoceros found in fossil deposits of......
woolly spider monkey, (genus Brachyteles), extremely rare primate that lives only in the remaining Atlantic forests......
working dog, any of various breeds of dog bred as guard, herding, draft, or rescue animals. Breeds range from medium......
The number one job for many animals is often simply being cute. However, for a few critters, working it means actual......
xenarthran, (magnorder Xenarthra), an ancient lineage of mammals comprising the armadillos (order Cingulata) and......
yak, (Bos grunniens), long-haired, short-legged oxlike mammal that was probably domesticated in Tibet but has been......
Yorkshire, breed of swine produced in the 18th century by crossing the large indigenous white pig of North England......
Yorkshire Terrier dog, breed of toy dog developed about the mid-1800s in the English counties of Yorkshire and......
zebra, any of three species of strikingly black-and-white striped mammals of the horse family Equidae (genus Equus):......
zokor, (genus Myospalax), any of seven north Asian species of subterranean rodents. Zokors are molelike animals......
zorille, (Ictonyx [sometimes Zorilla] striatus), African carnivore of the weasel family (Mustelidae), frequenting......