facts about mammals
Facts about Mammals
Mammals are a class of vertebrates (animals which have a backbone) which began to evolve on Earth around 200 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about the animal class that human beings are a part of as well.
- Metatheria - it includes mammals which have abdominal pouches. These are also known as marsupials. They give birth to underdeveloped babies which are then carried in the pouches till they are fully developed. Kangaroos, Koalas are some well-known examples of marsupials.
- Eutheria - these mammals do not possess pouches and the baby is kept nourished within the body by a well-developed placenta. They are also known as placentals. About 95% of mammals belong to this group. Human beings, elephants, tigers, cows, bears are some examples of placentals.
- The largest mammal is the blue whale. It is also the biggest animal of any kind to have ever lived on Earth. It can grow to 30 meters in length and weigh around 30,000 pounds.
- Another feather in the cap for the blue whale is that it is also the loudest animal on Earth. Its call can be as loud as 188 decibels.
- The largest mammal on land is the African elephant. It can grow up to 3.3 meters in height and weigh around 13,000 pounds.
- The distinction of having the longest gestation period of 22 months is also held by elephants.
- The Virginian opossum, the rare water opossum or yapok of South America and the eastern native cat of Australia share the shortest gestation period of 12 days.
- The smallest mammal in the world is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat or bumblebee bat which grows to only 1.3 inches in length and weighs 2 grams.
- Bats are the only mammals that are capable of flying.
- The fastest mammal on land is the cheetah, which can reach speeds of up to 60 mph.
- The fastest mammal in water is the killer whale, which can swim at speeds of 34 mph.
- The bowhead whale has the longest lifespan among mammals and can live for 100 years or more.
- There are certain mammals that do not have any teeth such as platypus echidna, Baleen whales(which include 15 species), and anteaters.
- 12% of mammal species are found in Indonesia, which is the largest for any country.
- The Australian continent is the only place in the world where all three major classes of mammals are found i.e. monotremes, placentals and marsupials.
- Monotremes are only found on the Australian continent.
- The Australian continent is also home to around 70% of marsupial species on Earth.