SUMMARIZED DIVERSITY OF
MAMMALS
1.
Order
Edentata – Primitive, toothless, anteaters, armadillos & sloths
2. Order Pholidota – characterized by horny scale covering their body. The horny scales are derived from fused bundles of hair. Only one genus – Manis
2. Order Pholidota – characterized by horny scale covering their body. The horny scales are derived from fused bundles of hair. Only one genus – Manis
3. Order
Macroscelidea - commonly called elephant shrews. Entomophagous
4. Order Largomorpha. The rabbits & hares. They are all herbivores of wide distribution.
5. Order Rodentia are the gnawing mammals. [40% of all mammals, 1,591 species]. The important families including:
4. Order Largomorpha. The rabbits & hares. They are all herbivores of wide distribution.
5. Order Rodentia are the gnawing mammals. [40% of all mammals, 1,591 species]. The important families including:
i.
Family
Sciuridae e.g. squirrels
ii.
Family
Muridae e.g. rats & mice
iii.
Family
Castoridae e.g. beavers
iv.
Family
Erethizontidae e.g. porcupines
v.
Family
Geomyidae (pocket gophers)
vi.
Family
Crecetidae e.g. voles, lemmings etc.
6.
Order
Insectivora: Mostly underground (e.g. Sorex Cincereus). They include shrews,
hedgehogs & moles. They are believed in evolutionary term to be close to
the monotremes.
7.
Order
Carnivora: Thee dogs, wolves, cats, and bears as well as weasels. Carnivorous. The
common families include:
8.
Order
Pinnipedia: Marine mammals. Carnivores. Characteristically, their limbs are
modified into flippers used for swimming. E.g the sea lions, walruses and
seals.
9.
Order
Scandentia: These are tree shrews. They are small mammals resembling squirrels.
10.
Order
Dermoptera: Flying Lemur. Only one genus (Galeopithecus) with just two species.
11.
Order
Chiroptera: Bats. The only truly flying mammals. Fore-limbs modified into
wings. There are about 950 extant
species.
12.
Order
Cetacea: Fish-like mammals. Aquatic eg Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. No
posterior limbs. Fore-limbs modified into flippers. No hair covering on their
body except for restricted location such as the muzzle. Except for the mammary
gland, there are no glands in the skin. They also lack pinnae.
13.
Order
Sirenia: Sea cows and manatees. These are also aquatic mammals. They have large
head but lack hind limbs. The fore limbs are modified into flippers.
14.
Order
Proboscidea: – the elephants. They are
the largest land animals. Characteristically, the upper incisors are prolonged
to form tusks while the molars are well developed. Only two species of
elephants exists viz:
i.
Elephas maximus – the Indian elephant having
relatively small ears.
ii.
Loxodonta africana – the African elephant having
relatively large ears.
15.
Order
Hyracoidea: this is the group of the hyraxes (Coneys). They are herbivorous and
widely distributed in Syria and Africa. They resemble rabbits. They live in
colonies.
16.
Order
Tubulidentata: this is the Aardvark order. Only one species and its found only
in Africa. It is a peculiar animal in that it has body like a pig. Its teeth
are hollow.
THE
UNGULATES: These are animals with hooves and teeth adapted for chewing. They
are into two orders namely Perrisodactyla and Artiodactyla.
17.
Order
Perrisodactyla: These are the odd-toed mammals with hooves. The toes are either
one or three, but each has a cornified hoof. Eg the Zebras, Asses, Tapirs and
Rhinoceros.
18.
Order
Artiodactyla: these are the even-toed hoofed mammals. Most have two toes e.g.
the hippopotamus while others have four toes. Animals in this order are grouped
into three sub-orders
19.
Order
Primates: The most highly developed mammals. Include include the lemurs,
monkeys, apes, humans and others. Members of this group have five digits
leaving flat nail on the forelimbs and hand limbs. Except humans, they all have
their body covered with hair. Their forelimbs are mainly adapted for grasping.
Characteristically, members of the order lack claws, scales, horns and hoofs.
