Mammals, HUM-MAR

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).
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Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title

humpback whale
humpback whale, (Megaptera novaeangliae), a baleen whale known for its elaborate courtship songs and displays.......
hutia
hutia, (family Capromyidae), any of 26 living and recently extinct species of Caribbean rodents. The surviving......
Hyaenodon
Hyaenodon, extinct genus of carnivorous mammals that first appeared in the fossil record about 42 million years......
hyena
hyena, (family Hyaenidae), any of three species of coarse-furred, doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa and......
hyrax
hyrax, (order Hyracoidea), any of six species of small hoofed mammals (ungulates) native to Africa and extreme......
ibex
ibex, any of several sure-footed, sturdy wild goats of the genus Capra in the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla)......
impala
impala, (Aepyceros melampus), swift-running antelope, the most abundant ruminant in the savannas of eastern and......
incubation
incubation, the maintenance of uniform conditions of temperature and humidity to ensure the development of eggs......
Indian rhinoceros
Indian rhinoceros, (Rhinoceros unicornis), the largest of the three Asian rhinoceroses. The Indian rhinoceros weighs......
indri
indri, (Indri indri), slender, long-limbed primate found in the forests of Madagascar. The largest of the lemurs,......
Indricotherium
Indricotherium, genus of giant browsing perissodactyls found as fossils in Asian deposits of the Late Oligocene......
Indridae
Indridae, family of arboreal Madagascan primates. See avahi; indri;...
insectivore
insectivore, the common name applied to any of 450 or so species of mammals—comprising hedgehogs, golden moles,......
Irish elk
Irish elk, (Megaloceros giganteus), extinct species of deer, characterized by immense body size and wide antlers,......
Irish Setter
Irish Setter, breed of sporting dog renowned for its elegant build, graceful gait, and bright mahogany-colored......
Irish terrier
Irish terrier, dog developed in Ireland, one of the oldest breeds of terriers. Nicknamed the “daredevil,” it has......
Irish water spaniel
Irish water spaniel, breed of sporting dog developed in Ireland in the 1830s for retrieving game; its ancestors......
Irish wolfhound
Irish wolfhound, tallest of all dog breeds, a keen-sighted hound used in Ireland for many years to hunt wolves......
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier, breed of terrier developed in England in the 19th century for hunting foxes both above- and......
jackal
jackal, any of several species of wolflike carnivores of the dog genus, Canis, family Canidae, sharing with the......
jackrabbit
jackrabbit, any of several North American species of hare (genus...
jaguar
jaguar, (Panthera onca), largest New World member of the cat family (Felidae), found from northern Mexico southward......
jaguarundi
jaguarundi, (Puma yagouaroundi), small, unspotted New World cat (family Felidae), also known as the otter-cat because......
Jamaican fruit bat
Jamaican fruit bat, (Artibeus jamaicensis), a common and widespread bat of Central and South America with a fleshy......
Japanese spaniel
Japanese spaniel, breed of toy dog that originated in China and was introduced to Japan, where it was kept by royalty.......
Java man
Java man, extinct hominin (member of the human lineage) known from fossil remains found on the island of Java,......
Javan rhinoceros
Javan rhinoceros, (Rhinoceros sondaicus), one of three Asian species of rhinoceroses, found only on the island......
jerboa
jerboa, any of 33 species of long-tailed leaping rodents well adapted to the deserts and steppes of eastern Europe,......
Jersey
Jersey, breed of small short-horned dairy cattle originating on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands; it is believed......
jumping mouse
jumping mouse, (subfamily Zapodinae), any of five species of small leaping rodents found in North America and China.......
kanchil
kanchil, any of several small chevrotains, or mouse deer, native to Southeast Asia. Formerly believed to be separate......
kangaroo
kangaroo, any of six large species of Australian marsupials noted for hopping and bouncing on their hind legs.......
kangaroo mouse
kangaroo mouse, (genus Microdipodops), either of two species of leaping bipedal rodents found only in certain deserts......
kangaroo rat
kangaroo rat, (genus Dipodomys), any of 22 species of bipedal North American desert rodents with a tufted tail.......
Karakul
Karakul, sheep breed of central or west Asian origin, raised chiefly for the skins of very young lambs, which are......
Keeshond
Keeshond, thickly coated medium-sized breed of spitz dog. It is the national dog of the Netherlands and a symbol......
Kerry blue terrier
Kerry blue terrier, versatile breed of working terrier that is used as a hunter, land and water retriever, and......
Key deer
Key deer, subspecies of white-tailed deer...
kiang
kiang, (Equus kiang), species of Asian wild ass found in the cold, arid highlands of Nepal, India, and Pakistan......
killer whale
killer whale, (Orcinus orca), largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). The killer whale is easy to identify......
kinkajou
kinkajou, (Potos flavus), an unusual member of the raccoon family (see procyonid) distinguished by its long, prehensile......
kipunji
kipunji, (Rungwecebus kipunji), arboreal species of monkeys that occur in two populations in the Eastern Arc forests......
klipspringer
klipspringer, (Oreotragus oreotragus), rock-climbing antelope, resident in mountains of eastern and southern Africa.......
knockout mouse
knockout mouse, genetically engineered laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) in which a specific gene has been inactivated,......
koala
koala, (Phascolarctos cinereus), tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern and southern Australia classified in......
kob
kob, (Kobus kob), small, stocky African antelope (tribe Reduncini, family Bovidae) that occurs in large numbers......
Kobus
Kobus, genus of antelopes, family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla), containing about six species—the waterbucks and......
Kodiak bear
Kodiak bear, (subspecies Ursus arctos middendorffi), subspecies of brown bear found only on Kodiak Island and nearby......
kolinsky
kolinsky, any of several species of Asian weasels. See...
komondor
komondor, large Hungarian sheepdog breed taken to Europe in the 9th century by the Magyars, who kept it primarily......
kouprey
kouprey, (Bos sauveli), elusive wild ox (tribe Bovini, family Bovidae) of Indochina and one of the world’s most......
Krapina remains
Krapina remains, fossilized remains of at least 24 early Neanderthal adults and children, consisting of skulls,......
kudu
kudu, two species of spiral-horned antelopes (tribe Tragelaphini, family Bovidae). The very large greater kudu......
kuvasz
kuvasz, Hungarian breed of guard and shepherd dog whose reputation as a watchdog was unexcelled during the Middle......
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever, breed of sporting dog that originated in Newfoundland and was brought to England by fishermen......
lagomorph
lagomorph, (order Lagomorpha), any member of the mammalian order made up of the relatively well-known rabbits and......
Lakeland terrier
Lakeland terrier, breed of dog originally used to hunt and kill foxes in the Lake District of England. Formerly......
LaMancha
LaMancha, American breed of dairy goat known for its much-reduced external ears. The lineage of LaManchas is uncertain;......
lamb
lamb, live sheep before the age of one year and the flesh of such an animal. Mutton refers to the flesh of the......
langur
langur, general name given to numerous species of Asian monkeys belonging to the subfamily Colobinae. The term......
Lantian man
Lantian man, fossils of hominins (members of the human lineage) found in 1963 and 1964 by Chinese archaeologists......
large mouse-eared bat
large mouse-eared bat, species of brown bat...
laughing hyena
laughing hyena, African species of hyena...
leaf-nosed bat
leaf-nosed bat, any of almost 250 species of New World and Old World bats belonging to the families Phyllostomidae......
lechwe
lechwe, (genus Kobus), antelope species of the genus Kobus. The lechwe, a member of the waterbuck and kob tribe......
lemming
lemming, any of 20 species of small rodents, some of which undertake large, swarming migrations. Lemmings are found......
lemur
lemur, (suborder Strepsirrhini), generally, any primitive primate except the tarsier; more specifically, any of......
leopard
leopard, (Panthera pardus), large cat closely related to the lion, tiger, and jaguar. The name leopard was originally......
leopard cat
leopard cat, (Prionailurus bengalensis), forest-dwelling cat, of the family Felidae, found across India, Southeast......
leopard seal
leopard seal, (Hydrurga leptonyx), generally solitary, earless seal (family Phocidae) that inhabits Antarctic and......
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso, breed of small sturdy dog from Tibet, where it is called abso seng kye (variously translated as “bark......
liger
liger, offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. The liger is a zoo-bred hybrid, as is the tigon, which is the......
linsang
linsang, any of three species of long-tailed, catlike mammals belonging to the civet family (Viverridae). The African......
lion
lion, (Panthera leo), large, powerfully built cat (family Felidae) that is second in size only to the tiger; it......
Lipizzaner
Lipizzaner, breed of horse that derived its name from the Austrian imperial stud at Lipizza, near Trieste, formerly......
litoptern
litoptern, (order Litopterna), any of various extinct hoofed mammals that first appeared in the Paleocene Epoch......
llama
llama, (Lama glama), domesticated livestock species, descendant of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), and one of the......
Llanocetus denticrenatus
Llanocetus denticrenatus, one of the earliest known baleen whales, sole member of the family Llanocetidae, suborder......
long-eared bat
long-eared bat, any of 19 species of small, usually colony-dwelling vesper bats (family Vespertilionidae). Long-eared......
longhair
longhair, breed of domestic cat noted for its long, soft, flowing coat. Long-haired cats were originally known......
loris
loris, (subfamily Lorisinae), any of about 11 species of tail-less or short-tailed South and Southeast Asian forest......
Lucy
Lucy, nickname for a remarkably complete (40 percent intact) hominin skeleton found by American paleoanthropologist......
lynx
lynx, (genus Lynx), any of four species of short-tailed cats (family Felidae) found in the forests of Europe, Asia,......
Maba cranium
Maba cranium, fossil fragments of an ancient human skull found in 1958 near the village of Maba (Ma-pa), Guangdong......
macaque
macaque, (genus Macaca), any of more than 20 species of gregarious Old World monkeys, all of which are Asian except......
Maine coon cat
Maine coon cat, North America’s only native breed of longhaired domestic cat. Though its origins are unknown, it......
Malayan lar
Malayan lar, species of gibbon...
Maltese
Maltese, breed of toy dog named for the island of Malta, where it may have originated more than 2,500 years ago.......
mammalogy
mammalogy, scientific study of mammals. Interest in nonhuman mammals dates far back in prehistory, and the modern......
mammoth
mammoth, (genus Mammuthus), any member of an extinct group of elephants found as fossils in Pleistocene deposits......
manatee
manatee, (genus Trichechus), any of three species of large slow aquatic mammals found along tropical and subtropical......
Manchester terrier
Manchester terrier, breed of dog developed in England from the whippet, a racing dog, and the black-and-tan terrier,......
mandrill
mandrill, (Mandrillus sphinx), colourful and primarily ground-dwelling monkey that inhabits the rainforests of......
maned rat
maned rat, (Lophiomys imhausi), a long-haired and bushy-tailed East African rodent that resembles a porcupine and......
maned wolf
maned wolf, (Chrysocyon brachyurus), rare large-eared member of the dog family (Canidae) found in remote plains......
mangabey
mangabey, any of nine species of slender, rather long-limbed monkeys of the genera Cercocebus and Lophocebus, found......
Manx
Manx, breed of tailless domestic cat of unknown origin but presumed by tradition to have come from the Isle of......
mara
mara, either of two South American rodents in the genus Dolichotis of the cavy family, the Patagonian mara (D.......
marbled cat
marbled cat, (species Felis marmorata), rare Southeast Asian cat, family Felidae, often referred to as a miniature......

Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title