A mammifer, also known as a mammal, is a class of warm-blooded vertebrate animals belonging to the taxonomic class Mammalia. Mammifers are characterized by the presence of mammary glands that produce milk, which is used to nourish their young. They are also distinguished by other unique anatomical and physiological characteristics.
Mammifers are known for having hair or fur covering their bodies, which aids in insulation and protection. They possess a specialized dentition called heterodonty, meaning they have different types of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars) adapted for specific functions such as capturing and chewing food. Mammifers have a highly muscular diaphragm that separates the chest and abdominal cavities, playing a vital role in respiration.
Reproduction in mammifers is typically sexual, with internal fertilization and gestation periods that vary among species. Most of them give live birth to their offspring, but a few species lay eggs, such as monotremes like the platypus. Mammifers exhibit various modes of locomotion, including walking, running, hopping, climbing, and swimming, depending on their specific adaptations and ecological niches.
There is an incredible diversity of mammifers, with over 6,400 known species, ranging from tiny shrews to colossal whales. They occupy diverse habitats worldwide, from the deep oceans to the highest mountains, and can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.
Mammifers have crucial ecological roles as predators, prey, seed spreaders, and ecosystem engineers. They are highly intelligent and display complex social behaviors, forming intricate family and social structures. Due to their close proximity and interactions with humans, many mammifers have been domesticated or are of significant economic importance for agriculture, research
