Mammals, WHY-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
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 often seek out boxes because the confined space makes them feel protected and sheltered. By nature cats seek......
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......
Cats rub against your legs primarily as a form of communication and marking behavior. Rubbing against you may serve......
Cat person? How many pictures of your cat sleeping have you got on your phone? A lot, right? They are so cute when......
Coyotes make a number of different vocalizations, some of which sound like human screams. These sounds—including......
Deer freeze in headlights primarily because of their unique vision and instincts. As crepuscular animals, their......
Deer shed their antlers as part of hormonal changes linked to their survival and mating season. In all but one......
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 have wet noses mainly to enhance their sense of smell. The moisture on the nose traps scent particles in the......
Dogs are naturally inclined to like bones due to their evolutionary history and biological needs. Dogs have evolved......
Dogs enjoy playing fetch because of a combination of instinctual behaviors, physical exercise needs, and the joy......
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......
Horseshoes protect hooves from cracking or wearing down on rough surfaces. When horses walk on such terrains, their......
Horses roll for a variety of reasons, each serving a distinct purpose in their daily lives and well-being. One......
Some consider this a trick question. That’s because horses actually doze while on their feet and lie down for REM......
Horses wear blinders to limit their field of vision, which helps them focus on what is directly ahead. Blinders,......
Kangaroos “hug” as a defensive tactic to stabilize themselves while fighting other kangaroos for dominance during......
Lions roar to proclaim their territory and to assert dominance. This vocalization is particularly important for......
Llamas spit for a number of reasons. When a llama feels threatened, it might spit to protect itself or to maintain......
Skunks spray as a highly effective defense mechanism to deter predators and threats. They are equipped with two......
Although a larger size normally indicates greater longevity among most mammals, dogs tend to follow a different......
Sphynx cats appear hairless because of a genetic mutation that occurred naturally in shorthaired cats and was later......
The saying that cats have nine lives comes from a blend of cultural beliefs, historical anecdotes, and human observation......
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......
Yaks have long hair because it is essential for survival: it provides superior insulation against the extreme cold......
There are several theories about why zebras have stripes. Scientists believe that one of the main reasons is camouflage......
Japan is one of the world’s most advanced countries. You can see it in the country’s modern architecture (which......
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......