#4: Mammals Flashcards
Fossil record for mammals
very complete
Beginning of Tertiary, 70 MYA started age of mammals, coinciding with the extinction of many reptiles.
Synapsid branch
Amniotes diverged 320 MYA during carboniferous era.
Synapsid skull
Possesses:
1.one lateral temporal opening allowing for advanced muscles for diverse diets
What is nature of evolutionary lineages
IT branches; not linear
The KT boundary
divide between Cretacious & Tertiary eras wherein the former dinosaurs die out and mammals started to thrive
Characteristics of ancient mammalian ancestors
- more vertical limbs than reptiles
- possess a synapsid skull vs diapsid skull in reptiles
- seperation of moracic and abdominal cavity
- possession of mammary gland
- probably ectothermic
- oviparous
- no fur
Characteristics of typical mammal
- endothermic
- fur
- vivaparity (nourishes the embryo inside the body)
Characteristics of therapsids
- hindlimbs directly beneath the body, moved parellel to long axis
- seperation of trunk into thoracic and abdominal regions
- Breathing mechanisms similar to mammals
- most became extinct; only few cynodont therapsids survived
First true mammals
Jurassic era
mostly nocturnal
Later cynodonts
smaller
mammal-like with hair and endothermy
specialized teeth
changes in middle ear/brain improved hearing/olfaction
Additional characteristics of mammals
- mammary glands
- sweat, sebacaceaous, scent glands (all epidermal in origin)
- diaphragm
- three middle ear ossicles
- Four-chambered heart
- large cerebral cortex
Subclass: Protheria
Monotremes
Oviparous, w/ cloaca present
ie duck-billed platypus, spiny anteater
Only mammals that lay eggs
Subclass: Theria consists of what two infraclasses?
Metatheria & Eutheria
Infraclass: Metatheria
Characteristics:
Marsupials
1. Viviparous w/ short gestation period; young often premature
2. marsupium (protective pouch) covers mammary glands; young feed & complete development inside it
3. ie opposums, kangaroos, koalas, wombats
Infraclass: Eutheria
Characteristics:
- Placental mammals.
- Born at advanced stage of development after nourishment in uterus
- Placenta: structure thru which maternal and fetal circulatory systems exchange nutrients & wastes thru diffusion
- Elephants, manataees, anteaters, shrews, bats, otters, horses, giraffes, whales, rabbits, lemmings, monkeys