Placental Mammals, 5 S-BAT

Placental mammal, (infraclass Eutheria), any member of the mammalian group characterized by the presence of a placenta, which facilitates exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood of the mother and that of the fetus. The placentals include all living mammals except marsupials and monotremes. Although some authorities consider the marsupials (cohort Marsupialia) to be placental mammals, these animals have a less-developed, less-efficient type of placenta that limits the gestation period. The true placenta of the placentals allows for a longer developmental period within the protection of the womb, a factor considered to have contributed to the evolutionary success of the group. Fossil evidence shows that the first placental mammals evolved between about 163 million and 157 million years ago during the Jurassic Period (201.3 million to about 145 million years ago).
Back To Placental Mammals Page

Placental Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title

5 Surprising Facts About Bats
Here are five facts that will change the way you think about bats. list, animals, bats, flying, mammals, facts,......
8 Interesting Facts About Rats
Those who suffer from musophobia might want to stop reading. This list is about rats! We’ve come up with eight......
9 (Lives of) Famous Cat Lovers
Cats are among the most beloved pet animals in the world. Second only to dogs as the most common pet of choice,......
A Dose of Dolphin-Induced Dopamine: 8 Species of Adorable Cetacean
Dolphins are like the Looney Tunes characters of the sea. Perfectly nice in the proper context, they are also klaxon......
aardvark
aardvark, (Orycteropus afer), stocky African mammal found south of the Sahara Desert in savanna and semiarid areas.......
aardwolf
aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal......
Abyssinian
Abyssinian, breed of domestic cat, probably of Egyptian origin, that has been considered to approximate the sacred......
acouchy
acouchy, (genus Myoprocta), either of two species of South American rodents that resemble the small tropical-forest-dwelling......
adapiform
adapiform, any of several dozen extinct species of primates of the suborder Strepsirrhini (a group that includes......
addax
addax, (Addax nasomaculatus), the most desert-adapted African antelope, formerly found throughout most of the Sahara......
affenpinscher
affenpinscher, breed of toy dog known since the 17th century. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where......
Afghan hound
Afghan hound, breed of dog developed as a hunter in the hill country of Afghanistan. It was once thought to have......
African bush elephant
African bush elephant, (Loxodonta africana), one of two living species of African elephants (genus Loxodonta) and......
African forest elephant
African forest elephant, (Loxodonta cyclotis), one of two living species of African elephants (genus Loxodonta)......
African pouched rat
African pouched rat, (subfamily Cricetomyinae), any of five species of African rodents characterized by cheek pouches......
African spiny mouse
African spiny mouse, (genus Acomys), any of more than a dozen species of small to medium-sized rodents characterized......
African wild dog
African wild dog, (Lycaon pictus), wild African carnivore that differs from the rest of the members of the dog......
African wildcat
African wildcat, (Felis silvestris libyca), small, tabbylike cat (family Felidae) found in open and forested regions......
agouti
agouti, (genus Dasyprocta), any of about a dozen species of tropical American rodents resembling the small forest-dwelling......
Airedale Terrier
Airedale Terrier, the largest of the terriers, called the “King of Terriers,” probably descended from the otterhound......
Akita
Akita, breed of working dog that originated in the mountains of northern Japan. In 1931 the Japanese government......
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute, sled dog developed by the Malemiut people of Alaska, from whom it takes its name. The Alaskan......
Albino
Albino, colour type of horse, characterized by pink skin and a pure white coat. Unlike some other colour types,......
alpaca
alpaca, (Vicugna pacos), domesticated South American member of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla),......
American Bully
American Bully, breed of muscular companion dog (in contrast to a working dog) created in the United States in......
American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse, one of the oldest recognized breeds of horses in the United States. The breed originated......
American Saddlebred horse
American Saddlebred horse, breed of riding horse possessing several easy riding gaits and great vigour and style.......
American spiny rat
American spiny rat, (family Echimyidae), any of at least 80 nocturnal species of medium-sized Central and South......
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier, breed of dog, originally called Staffordshire Terrier when registered with the......
American water spaniel
American water spaniel, breed of sporting dog originating in the United States in the late 1800s, bred to retrieve......
Americas, pony of the
pony of the Americas, riding-pony breed used as a child’s mount, developed in the United States in the 1950s by......
Angora goat
Angora goat, breed of domestic goat originating in ancient times in Asia Minor near the city of Ankara (previously......
Angus
Angus, breed of black, polled beef cattle, for many years known as Aberdeen Angus, originating in northeastern......
anomalure
anomalure, (family Anomaluridae), any of seven African species of rodents comprising the large anomalures (genus......
anteater
anteater, (suborder Vermilingua), any of four species of toothless, insect-eating mammals found in tropical savannas......
antelope
antelope, any of numerous Old World grazing and browsing hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae (order......
aoudad
aoudad, (Ammotragus lervia), North African goatlike mammal of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla). This species......
ape
ape, (superfamily Hominoidea), any tailless primate of the families Hylobatidae (gibbons) and Hominidae (chimpanzees,......
Appaloosa
Appaloosa, colour breed of horse popular in the United States. The breed is said to have descended in the Nez Percé......
Arabian horse
Arabian horse, earliest improved breed of horse, valued for its speed, stamina, beauty, intelligence, and gentleness.......
Arctic fox
Arctic fox, (Vulpes lagopus), northern fox of the family Canidae, found throughout the Arctic region, usually on......
Ardipithecus
Ardipithecus, the earliest known genus of the zoological family Hominidae (the group that includes humans and excludes......
Are All Dairy Cattle Female?
No, not all dairy cattle are female, but only female cattle (cows) produce milk. Milk production is a sex-limited......
Are Bats Really Blind?
Bats are idiosyncratic creatures, with habits that humans find incredibly odd—like occasional bloodsucking, sleeping......
Are Bats Rodents?
With their fuzzy noses and rounded ears, bats are often called “rats with wings” or “flying rodents” by people......
Are Cheetahs Cats or Dogs?
Cheetahs are cats, not dogs. They belong to the family Felidae, which includes all cat species, from the domestic......
Are Chimpanzees Cannibals?
For years, no one knew why female chimpanzees prefer to give birth alone. Chimpanzee births in the wild are rarely......
Are Civet Cats and Genet Cats the Same Animals?
A medium-sized, short-legged, catlike creature with a ringed-tail is on display in a natural history museum that......
Are Cows Really Unable to Walk Down Stairs?
It’s a common belief that cows are unable to walk down stairs. Many people think that you can get a cow up stairs......
Are Dogs Really Color-Blind?
In film and television, whenever the perspective of a dog is shown, the scene is usually edited to be in black,......
Are Dogs Smarter than Cats?
The ongoing quarrel about whether dogs or cats are smarter has divided pet lovers throughout history—and scientific......
Are Donkeys Intelligent?
Donkeys are intelligent animals, though they’re often thought to be slow and stubborn. Studies suggest that donkeys......
Are Hyenas Cats or Dogs?
Hyenas are neither cats nor dogs. While they possess features that lead to this common confusion and share more......
Are Llamas Ruminants?
Like ruminants, a llama chews its cud, which consists of plants it has eaten and then regurgitates and rechews......
Are Pandas Endangered?
Giant pandas, more commonly called pandas, are currently listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened......
Are Porcupines Aggressive?
Porcupines are not aggressive. Their behavior is rooted in self-preservation. When faced with a threat, they turn......
Are Santa’s Reindeer Female?
Magic certainly abounds when it comes to the jolly man at the North Pole, but if Santa Claus’s reindeer have a......
Are Tigers Bigger Than Lions?
Lions may be kings, but tigers are larger—earning their place as the biggest of the world’s “big cats” (genus Panthera).......
Are Zebras White with Black Stripes or Black with White Stripes?
The question of whether zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes might seem like the set-up......
argali
argali, (Ovis ammon), the largest living wild sheep, native to the highlands of Central Asia. Argali is a Mongolian......
armadillo
armadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions......
Arsinoitherium
Arsinoitherium, genus of extinct large, primitive, hoofed mammals that have been found as fossils in Egypt in deposits......
Asian elephant
Asian elephant, (Elephas maximus), largest land mammal in the continent of Asia, notable for its distinctive gray......
Asian tree mouse
Asian tree mouse, (subfamily Platacanthomyinae), any of three species of small rodents found only in a few tropical......
Asiatic black bear
Asiatic black bear, (Ursus thibetanus), member of the bear family (Ursidae) found from southern Iran to the Himalayas,......
Asiatic lion
Asiatic lion, (subspecies Panthera leo leo), population of lions whose geographic range once extended from Turkey......
ass
ass, either of two species belonging to the horse family, Equidae, especially the African wild ass (Equus africanus)......
Asselar man
Asselar man, extinct human known from a skeleton found in 1927 near the French military post of Asselar, French......
aurochs
aurochs, (Bos primigenius), extinct wild ox of Europe, family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla), from which cattle are......
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dog, breed of herding dog developed in the 19th century to work with cattle in the demanding......
Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd, breed of herding dog that, despite its name, was developed in the western United States in......
Australian terrier
Australian terrier, breed of dog that originated as an Australian farm dog. First exhibited in 1885 as the Australian......
Australopithecus
Australopithecus, (genus Australopithecus), group of extinct primates closely related to, if not actually ancestors......
Australopithecus sediba
Australopithecus sediba, extinct primate species that inhabited southern Africa beginning about 1.98 million years......
avahi
avahi, (genus Avahi), long-legged arboreal lemur of Madagascar. Avahis have short arms, a short muzzle, and a round......
aye-aye
aye-aye, (Daubentonia madagascariensis), rare squirrel-like primate of Madagascar, the sole living representative......
Ayrshire
Ayrshire, breed of hardy dairy cattle originating in the county of Ayr, Scotland, in the latter part of the 18th......
babirusa
babirusa, (Babirousa babyrussa), wild East Indian swine, family Suidae (order Artiodactyla), of Celebes and the......
baboon
baboon, (genus Papio), any of five species of large, robust, and primarily terrrestrial monkeys found in dry regions......
Bactrian camel
Bactrian camel, either of two of the three living species of camels inhabiting the steppes and arid regions of......
badger
badger, common name for any of several stout carnivores, most of them members of the weasel family (Mustelidae),......
Baikal seal
Baikal seal, (Pusa sibirica), species of small earless seals that inhabits the waters and coastline areas of Lake......
baleen whale
baleen whale, (suborder Mysticeti), any cetacean possessing unique epidermal modifications of the mouth called......
bamboo rat
bamboo rat, any of four Asiatic species of burrowing, slow-moving, nocturnal rodents. Bamboo rats have a robust,......
bandicoot rat
bandicoot rat, any of five Asiatic species of rodents closely associated with human populations. The greater bandicoot......
banteng
banteng, (species Bos banteng), a species of wild Southeast Asian cattle, family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla),......
barasingha
barasingha, (Cervus duvauceli), graceful deer, belonging to the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found in......
Barb
Barb, native horse breed of the Barbary states of North Africa. It is related to, and probably an offshoot of,......
Barbary lion
Barbary lion, (subspecies Panthera leo leo), extinct lion population that once inhabited large areas of North Africa’s......
Barbary macaque
Barbary macaque, (Macaca sylvanus), tailless ground-dwelling monkey that lives in groups in the upland forests......
barbastelle
barbastelle, (genus Barbastella), either of two bats of the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae, found in Europe......
Barylambda
Barylambda, extinct genus of unusual and aberrant mammals found as fossils in deposits in North America in the......
Basenji
Basenji, ancient breed of hound native to Central Africa, where it has historically lived as a village dog (one......
basilosaurid
basilosaurid, any member of the family Basilosauridae, an early group of whales that lived from the middle Eocene......
Basilosaurus
Basilosaurus, extinct genus of primitive whales of the family Basilosauridae (suborder Archaeoceti) found in Middle......
Basset Hound
Basset Hound, breed of dog developed centuries ago in France and long maintained, chiefly in France and Belgium,......
bat
bat, (order Chiroptera), any member of the only group of mammals capable of flight. This ability, coupled with......
bat-eared fox
bat-eared fox, (species Otocyon megalotis), large-eared fox, belonging to the dog family (Canidae), found in open,......
Batodonoides
Batodonoides, genus of extinct insectivorous mammals that lived during the Eocene Epoch (56 to 33.9 million years......

Placental Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title