Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterized by the possession of hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young. Most mammals also possess sweat glands and specialized teeth, and the largest group of mammals, the placentals, have a placenta which feeds the offspring during gestation. The mammalian brain, with its characteristic neocortex, regulates endothermic and circulatory systems, including a four-chambered heart. Mammals range in size from the 30-40 millimetre (1- to 1.5-inch) Bumblebee Bat to the 33-metre (108-foot) Blue Whale.
Except for the five species of monotremes which lay eggs, all living mammal species give birth to live young. Most mammals, including the six most species-rich orders, belong to the placental group. The three largest orders, in descending order, are Rodentia, mice, rats, porcupines, beavers, capybaras, and other gnawing mammals, Chiroptera, bats, and Soricomorpha, shrews, moles and solenodons. The next three largest orders include the Primates, to which the human species belongs, the Cetartiodactyla including the even-toed hoofed mammals and the whales and the Carnivora dogs, cats, weasels, bears, seals, and their relatives.
Non-mammals, also known as oviparous animals, are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects and arachnids.
Land-dwelling animals that lay eggs, often protected by a shell, such as reptiles and insects, do so after having completed the process of internal fertilization. Water-dwelling animals, such as fish and amphibians, lay their eggs before fertilization, and the male lays its sperm on top of the newly laid eggs in a process called external fertilization.
Almost all non-oviparous fish, amphibians and reptiles are ovoviviparous, i.e. The eggs are hatched inside the mother's body or, in case of the sea horse inside the father's. The true opposite of oviparity is placental viviparity, employed by almost all mammals the exceptions being marsupials and monotremes.
There are only five known species of oviparous mammals: Four species of Echidna and the Platypus.
Except for the five species of monotremes which lay eggs, all living mammal species give birth to live young. Most mammals, including the six most species-rich orders, belong to the placental group. The three largest orders, in descending order, are Rodentia, mice, rats, porcupines, beavers, capybaras, and other gnawing mammals, Chiroptera, bats, and Soricomorpha, shrews, moles and solenodons. The next three largest orders include the Primates, to which the human species belongs, the Cetartiodactyla including the even-toed hoofed mammals and the whales and the Carnivora dogs, cats, weasels, bears, seals, and their relatives.
Non-mammals, also known as oviparous animals, are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects and arachnids.
Land-dwelling animals that lay eggs, often protected by a shell, such as reptiles and insects, do so after having completed the process of internal fertilization. Water-dwelling animals, such as fish and amphibians, lay their eggs before fertilization, and the male lays its sperm on top of the newly laid eggs in a process called external fertilization.
Almost all non-oviparous fish, amphibians and reptiles are ovoviviparous, i.e. The eggs are hatched inside the mother's body or, in case of the sea horse inside the father's. The true opposite of oviparity is placental viviparity, employed by almost all mammals the exceptions being marsupials and monotremes.
There are only five known species of oviparous mammals: Four species of Echidna and the Platypus.