Mammals Flashcards
what are some characteristics of mammals
- body covered in hair
- mammary glands
- teeth which are socketed and differenciated
- most bones have epiphyses
- diaphragm for respiration
- four chambered heart
- homeotherms
what is the primary function of a body covered in hair
insulation
- camouflage
- signalling/warning
- sensory function
what are epiphyses
the end part of a long bone, initially growing separately from the shaft.
what are the different classes of mammals
1) prototheria
2) theria
3) eutheria
outline the characteristics of the order monotremata in the subclass prototheria
- egg laying mammals
- only 3 genera
what is the infraclass in the subclass theria
metatheria = marsupials
outline some characteristics of the infraclass eutheria (placentals) in the subclass theria
- diverse group with nearly 4000 species
- nourished before birth in the uterus through the placenta
how many orders are there in the infraclass eutheria
20
what was the great american interchange
occured 25 million years ago and is a major paleozoogeographic event
- the movement of animals from north american to south america via isthumus of panama and vice versa
what is the oldest primate
Archicebus achilles found in 2013
55 million years ago
what are some characteristics of primates
- grasping hands and feed
- larger brains
- flatter faces
- flat nails, not claws
- steroscopic vision with limited smell
- long parental care
- bipedalism
- smaller, fewer and less specialised teeth
what are the two primate groups
1) prosimian
2) anthropoidea
what are prosimians
a primate group which is small ranging from species the size of a mous to as large as a cat
- 5 digits on each hand and foot
- typically omnivorous
give an example of some species in the prosimian group
lemurs
lorises
galagos
how are chimpanzees similar to humans
- share 98% of allels with chimps
- make and use tools
- sense of self awareness
- omnivores
- coddle young
- walk bipedally
