CLASS MAMMALIA

Mammals belong to the class Mammalia in the Phylum Chordata. A

mammal is any member of a group of vertebrate animals in which the young
are nourished with milk from the special mammary glands of the mother. In
addition to these characteristics milk glands, mammals are distinguished by
several other unique features.

CHARACTERISTIC OF MAMMALS
1. Mammals are warm-blooded animals who give birth to their younger
ones.
2. They are the most dominant animal form in almost all types of habitats.
3. They have mammary glands that help them produce milk to feed their
younger ones.
4. Presence of a region of the brain known as the Neocortex.
5. Their skin processes oil glands (sebaceous glands) and sweat glands
(sudoriferous glands).
6. The fur of hair throughout the body which helps animals adapt to their
environment.
7. They are heterodont, i.e., possess different types of teeth.
8. Mammals also possess cervical vertebrae.
9. The skull is dicondylic.
10. The trunk is divided into thorax and abdomen.
11.The mammals respire through the lungs.
12. Good sense of hearing as mammals are aided by 3 middle ear
bones.
13. Mammals have a four-chambered heart. The sinus venous and
renal portal systems are absent.
14. Presence of single-boned lower jaws.
15. The brain is well-developed and divided into the cerebrum,
cerebellum, and medulla.
 16. They possess 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
17. Exhibit one of the most advanced forms of diaphragms.
18. The mammals can also lay eggs. They are known as oviparous.

CLASSIFICATION OF MAMMALS

Class Mammalia is the largest class in the animal kingdom and is classified
as mammal. Class Mammalia is classified into 3 subclasses (Prototheria,
Metatheria, and Eutheria), 28 orders, 161 families, and more than 4900
species.
Prototheria - this subclass contains the egg-laying mammals, the
oldest forms in the class Mammalia. Only 3 living species are in this group,
divided into two families and one order called Monotremata. Even though
there are fewest in this group compared to any other subclasses in this
class, prototherians are so different from other mammals that it is clear they
belong to an ancient branch of the mammal family tree.
Metatheria - Metatherian mammals also known as marsupials include
about 272 species, thriving in different diversities. Most are found in Central
and South America (around 70 species) and Australasia (about 200
species). During the Cenozoic era, they evolved significantly due to limited
competition from placental mammals. Today, marsupials exhibit various
forms and lifestyles, some resembling placental mammals like moles and
primates, while others, like kangaroos, have unique traits. Historically,
Australia hosted giant herbivorous marsupials, massive kangaroos, and
carnivorous marsupials resembling lions. In South America, marsupials
adapted to fill carnivore roles as placental mammals dominated herbivore
niches. The decline in marsupial diversity with the spread of placental
mammals remains a mystery, whether due to competition or random
historical changes.
Eutheria - Eutherians come from Greek words meaning 'good beasts.'
They constitute a group that includes all placental mammals and other
therian mammals that are more closely related to placentals than to
marsupials. What makes these eutherians different from other mammals is
their unique features in their feet, ankles, jaws, and teeth. One thing that is
key to all living eutherians is that they do not have epipubic bones, which
are present in other mammals such as marsupials and monotremes. This
absence helps their bellies to expand during pregnancy although some early
eutherians had these bones.

REPRODUCTION IN MAMMALS
Mammals are separated into three main groups based on how they
reproduce: Monotremes, Marsupials, and Placental.
MONOTREMES
 Monotreme means “single opening” in Greek, referring to a single duct
(the cloaca). Monotreme are perhaps the odd ones out of the mammalian
lot. They don’t give birth at all, but instead lay telelocithal eggs (meaning
they contain yolk) enclosed within shells, they lay eggs from the same
opening where they eliminate waste from their bodies—examples (echidna,
platypus).
MARSUPIALS

A marsupial is a type of mammal whose young are born very early in

their development outside their mother’s body in the protective pouch or
skin fold. Marsupial babies are called joeys. However, the word marsupial
comes from the Latin word marsupium, which means pouch, not all
marsupials have pouches.

PLACENTAL
 The placenta is an organ that develops in a pregnant mammal and
connects the developing fetus to the wall of the uterus. A placental mammal,
(infraclass Eutheria), is any member of the mammalian group characterized
by the presence of a placenta, a vascular organ that develops during
gestation, which facilitates the 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.

Geographic Range
Mammals can be found on all continents, in all oceans, and on many
oceanic islands of the world. (Nowak, 1991; Vaughan, et al., 2000)

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION OTHER GEOGRAPHIC

TERMS
NEARCTIC OCEANIC ISLANDS
PALEARTIC ARCTIC ISLANDS
ORIENTAL INDIAN OCEAN
ETHIOPIAN ATLANTIC OCEAN
NEOTROPICAL PACIFIC OCEAN COSMOPOLITAN
AUSTRALIAN MEDI
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
ANTARCTICA

Habitat
Mammals have adapted to nearly every land and water environment
on Earth, from deserts to rainforests and polar regions. Some, like monkeys
and sloths, live in trees, while bats are unique among vertebrates for their
ability to fly. Many mammals, such as seals, sea lions, and otters, inhabit or
are near water, while whales and dolphins are fully aquatic, found in oceans
and some rivers, diving to depths over 1 kilometer.
HABITAT TERRESTRIA AQUATIC WETLAND OTHER
REGIONS L BIOMES BIOMES S HABITATS
TEMPERATE TUNDRA PELAGIC MARSH URBAN
TROPICAL TAIGA REEF SWAMP SUBURBAN
POLAR DESERT OR LAKES BOG AGRICULTURA
DUNE AND L
PONDS
RIVERS RIPARIAN
AND
STREAM
S
TERRESTRIA SAVANNAH COASTAL ESTUARINE
L OR
GRASSLAND
SALTWATER CHAPPARAL BRACKIS INTERTIDAL
OR MARINE H WATER OR
LITTTORAL
FRESHWATE FOREST
R
 RAINFORES
T
SCRUB
FOREST
MOUNTAINS
ICECAP

ORDERS OF MAMMALS UNDER DIFFERENT

CLASSIFICATIONS
Metatheria is Divided into 7 Orders.

Order Examples

Notoryctemorphia Marsupial moles

Diprotodontia Koalas, kangaroos

Microbiotheria Colocolo opossum

Dasyuromorphia Dasyurids, thylacines

Paucituberculata South American rat opossum

Peramelemorphia Bandicoots

Didelphimorphia New world opossum

EUTHERIA IS DIVIDED INTO 18 ORDERS

S.No. Order Examples

1. Insectivora Moles, shrews

2. Dermoptera Flying lemurs

3. Proboscidea Elephant

4. Rodentia Hamsters, squirrels, rats

5. Artiodactyla Goat, giraffes, camels

6. Carnivora Dogs, Bears

7. Chiroptera Bats, flying foxes

8. Pholiodota Pangolins

9. Lagomorpha Rabbits and hares

10. Cetacea Whales, dolphins

11. Sirenia Seacows

12. Perissodactyla Horses, Zebras

13. Edentata Armadillos

14. Primates Lemurs, lorises

15. Afrosoricida Golden moles

16. Hyracoidea Hyraxes

17. Pilosa Sloths

18. Scandentia Tree shrews

While Prototheria only has one order.
Order: Monotremata
Example: Duck Billed platypus (Ornithorhyncus), Echidna
(Tachyglossus).
THERIA
Theria animals do not lay eggs; they give birth to live pups. Their mammary
glands provide milk to feed the young. This reproductive strategy helps
them survive and develop while giving them direct parental care. It is
subdivided into Metatheria (marsupials) and Eutheria (placental mammals).
1. Eutheria (Placental Mammals) - Within Theria, the placental animals
are quite diverse and are characterized by the presence of a
placenta during pregnancy. This adaptation allows for more
advanced children at birth and a longer gestation period.
EXAMPLES OF REMARKABLE SPECIES WITHIN EACH GROUP
 Primates: Humans (Homo sapiens), chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans.
 Carnivores: Lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), wolves (Canis
lupus), domestic cats (Felis catus).
 Ungulates: Horses (Equus ferus caballus), cows (Bos taurus), giraffes
(Giraffa camelopardalis), deer (family Cervidae).
 Rodents and lagomorphs: Mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus
norvegicus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and hares (Lepus
europaeus).
 Bats: Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis).
 Insectivores: European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), eastern mole
(Scalopus aquaticus).
1. Metatheria (marsupials) - One of the Theria reproduction
strategies has the Marsupials; these give birth to quite immature
offspring but continue development outside the womb, mostly in a
pouch.
EXAMPLES OF NOTABLE MARSUPIAL SPECIES
 Kangaroos (Macropodidae)
 Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
 Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)
 Opossums (Didelphidae)
 numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
19 ORDERS
Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Perissodactyla (horses, rhinoceroses, tapirs)
Pholidota (pangolins)
Pilosa (anteaters, sloths)
Primates (marmosets, monkeys, apes, lemur)
Proboscidea (elephants)
Rodentia (gophers, mice, squirrels, porcupines)
Scandentia (tree shrews)
Sirenia (dugongs, manatees)
Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
ARTIODACTYL
- Artiodactyls are a group of hoofed mammals that belong to the order
Artiodactyla. The defining characteristic of these animals is that they have
an even number of toes, usually two or four, on each foot. This is in contrast
to perissodactyls (like horses and rhinos), which have an odd number of
toes (usually one or three).
Example: pigs, hippopotamuses, camels, deer, giraffes
CARNIVORA
- Carnivora is an order of mammals that primarily consists of animals
that are adapted to a meat-based diet.
Example: Lion, tiger, wolves, and bears
CHIROPTERA
- Bats (order Chiroptera) are the only mammals capable of flight. Their
ability to fly and use echolocation for navigation has made them a highly
diverse and numerous group. Bats vary in color, fur texture, and facial
features, particularly the muzzle and ears, which differ between families and
genera. Some species have a fleshy structure called the nose leaf around
their nostrils.
CETACEA
Cetaceans, (order Cetacea), these animals are fully adapted to aquatic
life, with specialized features that allow them to thrive in the ocean.
Cetaceans have very little hair, likely because hair is ineffective for
insulation in water and increases drag while swimming. Any hair present is
limited to the head, primarily on the lower jaw and snout, and is believed to
be sensory whiskers (vibrissae) used for detecting their environment.
DERMOPTERA
Dermoptera is an order of mammals commonly known as colugos or
flying lemurs (though they are not true lemurs and do not truly "fly").
Dermoptera consists of two species of tree-dwelling mammals found in
Southeast Asia.
Example: Colugos and flying lemurs.
HYRACOIDEA
hyrax, (order Hyracoidea), any of six species of small hoofed mammals
(ungulates) native to Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Hyraxes are
rodentlike in appearance, with squat bodies and plump heads; the neck,
ears, and tail are short, as are the slender legs.
INSECTIVORA
- these mammals typically have small, elongated bodies with sharp teeth
and claws suited for hunting and consuming insects.
Example: Shrews, moles, hedgehogs.
LAGOMORPHA
- These animals are known for their distinctive dietary habits, particularly
their reliance on plant material. Rabbits and hares characteristically have
long ears, a short tail, and strong hind limbs that provide a bounding
locomotion. In contrast, the smaller pikas have shorter, rounded ears, no
external tail, and less well-developed hind limbs associated with scampering
locomotion.
Example: Rabbits, Hares, pikas

1. Mammalia - A class of vertebrates characterized by advanced traits like

mammary glands and hair.
2. Mammals - Warm-blooded animals belonging to the class Mammalia,
distributed across various habitats.
3. Mammary Glands - Specialized glands in females that produce milk to
feed offspring.
4. Neocortex - A brain region associated with sensory perception, cognition,
and advanced behaviors.
5. Sebaceous Glands - Oil-producing glands in mammalian skin.
6. Sudoriferous Glands - Sweat-producing glands present in mammals.
7. Heterodont Dentition - Presence of different types of teeth (e.g.,
incisors, canines, molars).
8. Dicondylic Skull - A skull structure connecting two occipital condyles to
the spine.
9. Cervical Vertebrae - Vertebrae of the neck region in mammals.
10. Thorax and Abdomen - Divisions of the mammalian trunk.
11. Lungs - Organs for respiration in mammals.
12. Middle Ear Bones - Three bones (malleus, incus, stapes) aiding in
hearing.
13. Four-Chambered Heart - A heart structure ensuring efficient blood
circulation.
14. Endothermic (Warm-blooded) - Ability to regulate internal body
temperature.
15. Viviparous - Giving birth to live young; exceptions include monotremes
like the platypus.
16. Single-Boned Lower Jaw - Unique jaw structure among mammals.
17. Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Medulla - Brain regions contributing to motor
control, cognition, and sensory processing.
18. 12 Pairs of Cranial Nerves - Nerves connecting the brain to different
body parts.
19. Diaphragm - A muscle aiding in respiration and unique to mammals.
20. Fur/Hair - Provides insulation, camouflage, and protection.
21. Vertebrates - Animals with a spinal cord surrounded by a backbone.
22. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) - An egg-laying mammal, an
exception to viviparous mammals.
23. Advanced Intelligence - Result of larger brains and a developed
neocortex in mammals.
24. Adaptability - Mammals' ability to thrive in diverse habitats like oceans,
deserts, polar regions, and rainforests.
25. Immunity Transfer - Through antibodies in milk during the early life
stages of offspring.
26. Insulation and Protection Functions of fur or hair, aiding in survival.
27. Auditory Ossicles - Bones in the middle ear enhance sound
transmission.
Larger Brain Specialized sensory ability (hearing, Increased intelligence
Endothermy Tooth Structure Diaphragm Locomotion Digestion Efficiency 4-
chambered heart Greater absorptive surface area in lungs Allowed for more
efficient gathering/use of food resources than extant reptiles
TABLE 3-1 Some Contrasts Between Adult Ectothermic Reptiles (Lizards)
and Endothermic Small Mammals Feature Ectotherms (Lizards)
Endotherms (Small Mammals) Lower size limit 1 g Approximately 2 g Body
shape Usually elongate More spherical Energy metabolism 50% to 90%
from anaerobic metabolism High level of aerobic energy production Activity
level High activity for only brief periods High activity over long periods Blood
pressure Low (30-50 mm Hg) High (80-200 mm Hg) Hematocrit Low High
Capillaries Large-diameter, widely spaced Small-diameter, closely spaced
Blood oxygen capacity 25% to 50% that of endotherms — Capillary length
(frogs) 155 mm/mm^3 of tissue (mouse) 3,500 mm/mm^3 Daily energy
requirement 3% to 4% that of mammal — Food source Can use highly
ephemeral food source (e.g., Heloderma eat bird eggs; Coleonyx can store
enough energy in 4 days to last 9 months) Mammals need more long-term
food sources Energy budget allocation Lizards allocate 90% of energy
budget to new biomass Mammals allocate 90% of energy budget to
thermoregulation Biomass role Minor consumers but often (e.g., in deserts)
major producers of biomass Major consumers but often low producers of
biomass
Soft Anatomy Do not preserve in the fossil record Mostly unknown
evolutionary origin (Therapsid, Cynodont, Mammaliformes?)
Skin Glands Mammary Glands Produce milk when stimulated by endocrine
hormones (prolactin, growth hormone) Almost exclusively develop only in
females Production of milk for young associated with developmental
learning and social bonding Sweat Glands For evaporative cooling
Sebaceous glands Produce oils to lubricate hair and skin.
Hair Made of keratin (protein) Cuticle (scale-like outer portion) Cortex
(deeper tightly packed) Medulla (inner mass) Pelage (coat of hair) Generally
falls out and regrows regularly (molt) Color patterns offer camouflage and
hides the body form Countershading Matching environmental soil Striping
(also creates optical illusions)
Fat and Energy Storage Not unique to animals but vital Energy storage
Hibernating or migrating animals Source of heat and water
• Brown fat produces heat when metabolized Thermal insulation
• Present especially in Arctic and Marine Mammals Circulatory System
Highly efficient Complete separation in pulmonary and systemic circuit 4
chambered heart
• Variable heart rates Erythrocytes with no nucleus at maturity
Respiratory System Large lungs with high respiratory surface area (alveoli)
Diaphragm is the principal muscle for breathing
• Movements are coordinated with breathing
CLASS MAMMALIA
DRAFT REPORT

WRITTEN BY:
REXIELYN LEJANO
MELODY LUGTU
PRINCESS CAYANAN
KATE GABRIELLE SOURIBIO
COLLEEN WANCE
RAFAEL PARRENNAS
ARIEL CALMA