Mammals, NEW-RAM
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
New Zealand short-tailed bat, (genus Mystacina), either of two species (M. robusta and M. tuberculata) of small......
Newfoundland, large breed of working dog developed on Newfoundland island, possibly from crosses between native......
nilgai, (Boselaphus tragocamelus), the largest Asian antelope (family Bovidae). The nilgai is indigenous to the......
noctule, (genus Nyctalus), any of about six species of vesper bats (family Vespertilionidae) found in Europe and......
northern white rhinoceros, (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), critically endangered subspecies of the white rhinoceros......
Norwegian elkhound, breed of dog that originated thousands of years ago in western Norway, where it was used as......
Norwegian Forest Cat, a breed of long-haired domestic cat known for its large size, strong, muscular body, and......
Norwich terrier, short-legged terrier breed developed about 1880 in England, where it soon became a fad with Cambridge......
Notharctus, extinct genus of small primates (family Adapidae) that shares many similarities with modern lemurs,......
Notoungulata, extinct group of hoofed mammals found as fossils, mostly in South America, although the oldest forms......
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, breed of hard-working sporting dog developed in the 19th century in the Little......
Nubian, breed of goat, probably native to Africa but common also in India and the Middle East since ancient times.......
numbat, (Myrmecobius fasciatus), marsupial mammal of the family Myrmecobiidae, of which it is the sole living representative.......
nutria, (Myocastor coypus), a large amphibious South American rodent with webbed hind feet. The nutria has a robust......
nyala, (Tragelaphus angasii), slender antelope of southeastern Africa, a member of the spiral-horned antelope tribe......
Oberhasli, breed of dairy goat from Switzerland, particularly Bern canton, where it is known as the Oberhasli-Brienzer.......
ocelot, (Felis, or Leopardus, pardalis), spotted cat of the New World, found in lowland areas from Texas southward......
okapi, (Okapia johnstoni), cud-chewing hoofed mammal that is placed along with the giraffe in the family Giraffidae......
Old English Sheepdog (OES), shaggy and smart herding dog developed in west England in the 18th century from dogs......
Old World fruit bat, (family Pteropodidae), any of more than 180 species of large-eyed fruit-eating or flower-feeding......
olingo, (genus Bassaricyon), any of six species of small arboreal carnivores of the raccoon family, Procyonidae,......
onager, (Equus onager), species of Asian wild ass that ranges from northwest Iran to Turkmenistan. The onager is......
opossum, any of slightly more than 100 species of New World marsupial mammals in the orders Didelphimorphia, Paucituberculata......
orangutan, (genus Pongo), any of three species of Asian great apes found in rainforests on the Southeast Asian......
oreodont, any member of a diverse group of extinct herbivorous North American artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates)......
Oreopithecus, extinct genus of primates found as fossils in Late Miocene deposits in East Africa and Early Pliocene......
oribi, (Ourebia ourebi), small, swift African antelope, the most gazelle-like of the dwarf antelopes (tribe Neotragini,......
oryx, (genus Oryx), any of three large antelopes (family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla) living in herds on deserts......
otter, (subfamily Lutrinae), any of 13 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae)......
otter shrew, (subfamily Potamogalinae), any of three species of amphibious and carnivorous tropical African insectivores......
otterhound, dog breed first described in the 14th century. Developed in England to hunt otters on both land and......
oviparity, expulsion of undeveloped eggs rather than live young. The eggs may have been fertilized before release,......
owl-faced monkey, (Cercopithecus hamlyni), arboreal guenon found in tropical forests east of the Congo basin. The......
ox, (Bos taurus, or B. taurus primigenius), a domesticated form of the large horned mammals that once moved in......
paca, (genus Cuniculus), either of two species of South American rodents with piglike bodies, large heads, and......
pacarana, (Dinomys branickii), a rare and slow-moving South American rodent found only in tropical forests of the......
Pakicetus, extinct genus of early cetacean mammals known from fossils discovered in 48.5-million-year-old river......
Pallas’s cat, (Felis manul), small, long-haired cat (family Felidae) native to deserts and rocky, mountainous regions......
Palomino, colour type of horse distinguished by its cream, yellow, or gold coat and white or silver mane and tail.......
pampas cat, (Felis colocolo), small cat, family Felidae, native to South America. It is about 60 cm (24 inches)......
giant panda, (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), bear with striking black-and-white coloration inhabiting bamboo forests......
pangolin, (family Manidae), any of about eight species of armoured placental mammals of the family Manidae (order......
panther, either of two mammals of the cat family (Felidae), the leopard or the puma. For information about large......
Papillon, breed of toy dog known from the 16th century, when it was called a dwarf spaniel. A fashionable dog,......
Patagonian opossum, (Lestodelphys halli), a small insectivorous and carnivorous marsupial (family Didelphidae,......
patas monkey, (Erythrocebus patas), long-limbed and predominantly ground-dwelling primate found in the grass and......
peccary, (family Tayassuidae), any of the three species of piglike mammal found in the southern deserts of the......
Peking man, extinct hominin of the species Homo erectus, known from fossils found at Zhoukoudian near Beijing.......
Pekingese, breed of toy dog developed in ancient China, where it was held sacred and kept as a palace dog by members......
Peninj mandible, an almost perfectly preserved fossil jaw of the hominin (of human lineage) species Paranthropus......
Percheron, heavy draft-horse breed that originated in the Perche region of France. The breed probably stems from......
perissodactyl, any member of the order Perissodactyla, a group of herbivorous mammals characterized by the possession......
Persian deer, fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) of western Asia. The maral, an Asiatic red deer, also is often called......
phalanger, any of several species of Australasian marsupial mammals. They are called possums in Australia and Tasmania.......
Phenacodus, extinct genus of mammals known from fossils of the late Paleocene and early Eocene epochs of North......
Phoberomys, extinct rodent genus, the largest rodent ever to have lived, that belongs to the infraorder Caviomorpha,......
Phyllostomidae, family of approximately 150 species of tropical and subtropical bats known collectively as American......
pichi, South American species of armadillo...
pichiciago, species of armadillo...
pig, wild or domestic swine, a mammal of the Suidae family. In Britain the term pig refers to all domestic swine,......
pika, (genus Ochotona), small short-legged and virtually tailless egg-shaped mammal found in the mountains of western......
pilot whale, (genus Globicephala), either of two species of small, slender toothed whales of the dolphin family......
pinniped, (suborder Pinnipedia), any of a group of 34 species of aquatic fin-footed mammals comprising seals, sea......
Pinto, (Spanish: “Painted”), a spotted horse; the Pinto has also been called paint, particoloured, pied, piebald,......
pipistrelle, (genus Pipistrellus), any of about 68 species belonging to the vesper bat family (Vespertilionidae).......
pit bull, fighting dog developed in 19th-century England, Scotland, and Ireland from Bulldog and terrier ancestry......
Pithecanthropus, former genus name assigned to fossil hominids including Java man (q.v.) and Peking man (q.v.),......
placental mammal, (infraclass Eutheria), any member of the mammalian group characterized by the presence of a placenta,......
platypus, (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), a small amphibious Australian mammal noted for its odd combination of primitive......
Pliohippus, extinct genus of horses that inhabited North America during the Pliocene Epoch (5.3–2.6 million years......
pocket gopher, (family Geomyidae), any of 38 species of predominantly North and Central American rodents named......
pocket mouse, any of 36 species of American rodents having fur-lined external cheek pouches that open alongside......
pointer, highly regarded breed of sporting dog of hound, spaniel, and setter ancestry. The pointer derives its......
Poland China, breed of pig developed between 1835 and 1870 in Butler and Warren counties, Ohio, U.S., by a fusion......
polar bear, (Ursus maritimus), great white northern bear (family Ursidae) found throughout the Arctic region. The......
polecat, any of several weasellike carnivores of the family Mustelidae (which includes the weasel, skunk, mink,......
Pomeranian, breed of toy dog that can be traced back—like the related Keeshond, Samoyed, and Norwegian Elkhound—to......
pony, any of several breeds of small horses standing less than 14.2 hands (147 cm, or 58 inches) high and noted......
Poodle, breed of dog thought to have originated in Germany but widely associated with France, where it is hugely......
porcupine, any of several species of large, herbivorous, quill-bearing rodents active from early evening to dawn.......
porpoise, (family Phocoenidae), specifically, any of seven species of toothed whales distinguishable from dolphins......
potto, (Perodicticus potto), slow-moving tropical African primate. The potto is a nocturnal tree dweller found......
prairie dog, (genus Cynomys), any of five species of burrowing, colony-forming squirrels that inhabit plains, high......
primate, in zoology, any mammal of the group that includes the lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.......
- Introduction
- Evolution, Behavior, Anatomy
- Social Behavior, Diet, Adaptations
- Socialization, Longevity, Adaptability
- Climbing, Leaping, Bipedalism
- Diet, Fruits, Leaves
- Evolution, Adaptation, Diversity
- Social Behavior, Diet, Adaptations
- Adaptations, Behavior, Evolution
- Hands, Feet, Adaptations
- Teeth, Diet, Evolution
- Snouts, Muzzles, Noses
- Vision, Hearing, Smell
- Reproduction, Social Behavior, Anatomy
- Evolution, Behavior, Taxonomy
- Evolution, Paleontology, Adaptations
- Evolution, Adaptations, Behavior
- Oligocene, Evolution, Adaptations
- Evolution, Social Behavior, Adaptations
- Evolution, Behavior, Adaptations
- Primates, Taxonomy, Evolution
proboscidean, (order Proboscidea), any of the group of mammals that includes elephants and their extinct relatives......
proboscis monkey, (Nasalis larvatus), long-tailed arboreal primate found along rivers and in swampy mangrove forests......
procyonid, (family Procyonidae), any of a group of tree-climbing mammals comprising raccoons, coatis, olingos,......
pronghorn, (Antilocapra americana), North American hoofed mammal, the sole living member of the old ruminant family......
Przewalski’s horse, (subspecies Equus caballus przewalskii or E. ferus przewalskii), last wild horse subspecies......
Ptilodus, extinct genus of mammals found as fossils in deposits dated to the Paleocene Epoch (65.5–55.8 million......
Pug, breed of toy dog that probably originated in China and was introduced to England near the end of the 17th......
puku, antelope species of the genus Kobus...
puli, small sheepdog breed introduced to Hungary about 1,000 years ago by the Magyars (early Hungarians). An agile......
puma, (Puma concolor), large brownish New World cat comparable in size to the jaguar—the only other large cat of......
Père David’s deer, (Elaphurus davidianus), large, rare Asian deer in the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla).......
quagga, (subspecies Equus quagga quagga), subspecies of plains zebra (Equus quagga) formerly found in vast herds......
quokka, marsupial mammal, a species of wallaby...
rabbit, any of 29 species of long-eared mammals belonging to the family Leporidae, excluding hares (genus Lepus).......
raccoon, (genus Procyon), any of seven species of nocturnal mammals characterized by bushy ringed tails. The most......
raccoon dog, (Nyctereutes procyonoides), member of the dog family (Canidae) native to eastern Asia and introduced......