Mammals, SAK-TAM

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

saki
saki, any of 22 species of arboreal South American monkeys having long nonprehensile furred tails. The 16 species......
Saluki
Saluki, breed of hound whose ancestors may date to 7000 to 6000 bce. The breed was popular throughout the ancient......
sambar
sambar, (Cervus unicolor), widely distributed deer, family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found from India and......
Samoyed
Samoyed, breed of working dog developed in Siberia, where its ancestors were kept by the Nenets (formerly Samoyed......
sand rat
sand rat, either of two species of gerbils in the genus...
Santa Gertrudis
Santa Gertrudis, breed of beef cattle developed in the 20th century by the King Ranch in Texas. It originally resulted......
saro
saro, rare South American species of otter...
Schipperke
Schipperke, Belgian dog breed that originated in Flanders (northern Belgium) as early as the 15th century. It was......
Schnauzer
Schnauzer, any of three breeds of dog—the Miniature, Standard, and Giant—developed in Germany and noted for their......
Scottish deerhound
Scottish deerhound, dog breed called the “royal dog of Scotland,” known since the 16th century. It was once the......
Scottish fold cat
Scottish fold cat, Breed of domestic cat with ears that fold forward and down. A Scottish shepherd discovered the......
Scottish terrier
Scottish terrier, short-legged terrier breed often held by its admirers to be the oldest of the Highland terriers,......
sea cow
sea cow, (Hydrodamalis gigas), very large aquatic mammal, now extinct, that once inhabited nearshore areas of the......
sea lion
sea lion, any of six species of eared seals found primarily in Pacific waters. Sea lions are characterized by a......
sea otter
sea otter, (Enhydra lutris), completely marine otter species of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds.......
seal
seal, any of 32 species of web-footed aquatic mammals that live chiefly in cold seas and whose body shape, round......
Sealyham terrier
Sealyham terrier, breed of terrier developed during the latter half of the 19th century by Capt. John Edwardes......
sei whale
sei whale, (Balaenoptera borealis), species of baleen whale capable of short bursts of speed that make it the swiftest......
seladang
seladang, Malayan wild cattle, a species of gaur...
serotine
serotine, (genus Eptesicus), any of 23 species of vesper bats (family Vespertilionidae). Frequently, the name serotine......
serow
serow, (genus Capricornis), any of five species of goatlike mammals that range from Japan and Taiwan to western......
serval
serval, (Felis serval), long-limbed cat, family Felidae, found in Africa south of the Sahara, especially in grass-......
setter
setter, any of three breeds of sporting dogs used in pointing game birds. Setters are derived from a medieval hunting......
sheath-tailed bat
sheath-tailed bat, (family Emballonuridae), any of about 50 bat species named for the way in which the tail protrudes......
sheep
sheep, (Ovis aries), species of domesticated ruminant (cud-chewing) mammal, raised for its meat, milk, and wool.......
sheep breeds
Sheep were first domesticated from wild species by at least 5000 bce and are raised for their fleece (wool), milk,......
sheepdog
sheepdog, In general, any dog breed developed to herd sheep; specifically, the border collie. Most sheepdog breeds......
Shetland pony
Shetland pony, breed of horse popular as a child’s pet and mount. Originating in the Shetland Islands, Scotland,......
Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdog, small herding dog developed to control the small sheep, poultry, and ponies of Scotland’s Shetland......
Shiba Inu
Shiba Inu, breed of dog that originated in Japan some 2,300 years ago for small game and ground bird hunting. A......
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu, Tibetan dog breed developed from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Listed in the toy group by the American......
Shire
Shire, draft horse breed native to the middle section of England. The breed descended from the English “great horse,”......
short-tailed opossum
short-tailed opossum, (genus Monodelphis), any of more than 20 species of small, mouse- and shrew-sized, insectivorous......
short-tailed shrew
short-tailed shrew, (genus Blarina), any of three species of North American insectivores that resemble voles in......
Shorthorn
Shorthorn, cattle breed raised for beef. The Shorthorn was developed during the last quarter of the 18th century......
shrew
shrew, (family Soricidae), any of more than 350 species of insectivores having a mobile snout that is covered with......
shrew rat
shrew rat, any of 24 species of carnivorous ground-dwelling rodents found only on the tropical islands of Sulawesi......
Shropshire
Shropshire, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Downs of England. It is one of......
siamang
siamang, (Symphalangus syndactylus), arboreal ape of the gibbon family (Hylobatidae), found in the forests of Sumatra......
Siamese
Siamese, popular short-haired breed of domestic cat originally from Thailand, a country whose official name was......
Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky, breed of working dog raised in Siberia by the Chukchi people, who valued it as a sled dog and companion.......
Siberian tiger
Siberian tiger, (subspecies Panthera tigris altaica), subspecies of tiger (Pantheria tigris) inhabiting the cold-climate......
sifaka
sifaka, (genus Propithecus), any of nine species of leaping arboreal lemurs found in coastal forests of Madagascar.......
sika
sika, (Cervus nippon), small, forest-dwelling deer of the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), which is native......
silky terrier
silky terrier, Australian breed of toy dog, first shown in 1907. It originated in Sydney and was once known as......
silver fox
silver fox, (Vulpes fulva), red fox of North America in that colour phase when the fur is black with interspersed......
simakobu
simakobu, (Simias concolor), leaf-eating monkey found only on the Mentawai Islands west of Sumatra. The body averages......
Simocetus
Simocetus, dolphinlike toothed whale (or odontocete) from the late Oligocene (28 million to 23 million years ago)......
Sinanthropus
Sinanthropus, genus formerly assigned to Peking man (q.v.) and Lantian man (q.v.), both now classified as Homo...
sirenian
sirenian, (order Sirenia), any of four large aquatic mammalian species now living primarily in tropical waters......
sitatunga
sitatunga, (Tragelaphus spekei), the most aquatic antelope, with elongated, splayed hooves and flexible foot joints......
Sivapithecus
Sivapithecus, fossil primate genus dating from the Miocene Epoch (23.7 to 5.3 million years ago) and thought to......
skunk
skunk, (family Mephitidae), black-and-white mammal, found primarily in the Western Hemisphere, that uses extremely......
Skye terrier
Skye terrier, breed of dog that was originated as a hunter on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and has remained relatively......
sled dog
sled dog, any canine used in Arctic climates to pull a sled across snow and ice. The breeds most commonly associated......
slit-faced bat
slit-faced bat, (family Nycteridae), any of 16 species of tropical bats, all belonging to the genus Nycteris, which......
sloth
sloth, (suborder Folivora), tree-dwelling mammal noted for its slowness of movement. All six living species are......
sloth bear
sloth bear, (Melursus ursinus), forest-dwelling bear (family Ursidae) that inhabits tropical or subtropical regions......
Smilodon
Smilodon, extinct genus of large mammalian carnivores known collectively by the common name sabre-toothed cat.......
smoky bat
smoky bat, (family Furipteridae), either of two bat species found in the Central and South American tropics and......
snow leopard
snow leopard, large long-haired Asian cat, classified as either Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia in the family Felidae.......
snow sheep
snow sheep, (Ovis nivicola), wild sheep belonging to the subfamily Caprinae (family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla),......
snowshoe hare
snowshoe hare, (Lepus americanus), northern North American species of hare that undergoes an annual colour change......
snub-nosed monkey
snub-nosed monkey, (genus Rhinopithecus), any of four species of large and unusual leaf monkeys (see langur) found......
soft-coated wheaten terrier
soft-coated wheaten terrier, breed of dog developed from the terriers kept as farm dogs in Ireland. It was recognized......
solenodon
solenodon, (family Solenodontidae), either species of large shrewlike mammal found only on the islands of Cuba......
Solo man
Solo man, prehistoric human known from 11 fossil skulls (without facial skeletons) and 2 leg-bone fragments that......
South American fox
South American fox, (genus Lycalopex), any of six South American carnivores of the dog family (Canidae). Although......
Southdown
Southdown, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Sussex hills of England. The oldest......
southern white rhinoceros
southern white rhinoceros, (Ceratotherium simum simum), subspecies of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum).......
Spalacotherium
Spalacotherium, extinct genus of primitive, probably predaceous, mammals known from fossils found in European deposits......
spaniel
spaniel, any of several sporting dogs used by hunters to flush game from cover. The earliest spaniels apparently......
spectacled bear
spectacled bear, (Tremarctos ornatus), the only South American bear of the family Ursidae. It inhabits the northern......
sperm whale
sperm whale, (Physeter macrocephalus), the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square......
sphynx cat
sphynx cat, Breed of hairless domestic cat, founded on two spontaneous mutations in shorthaired cats. The first......
spider monkey
spider monkey, (genus Ateles), large, extremely agile monkey that lives in forests from southern Mexico through......
spitz
spitz, any of a group of northern dogs—such as the Akita, Pomeranian, and Samoyed—characterized by a wolflike or......
spring hare
spring hare, (Pedetes capensis), a bipedal grazing rodent indigenous to Africa. About the size of a rabbit, the......
springbok
springbok, (Antidorcas marsupialis), graceful, strikingly marked antelope of the gazelle tribe, Antilopini (family......
springer spaniel
springer spaniel, either of two ancient breeds of sporting dogs used to flush game from cover and to retrieve it.......
squirrel
squirrel, (family Sciuridae), generally, any of the 50 genera and 268 species of rodents whose common name is derived......
squirrel monkey
squirrel monkey, (genus Saimiri), most abundant primate of riverside forests in the Guianas and the Amazon River......
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, breed of terrier developed in 19th-century England for fighting other dogs in pits.......
Standardbred
Standardbred, breed of horse developed in the United States in the 19th century and used primarily for harness......
steer
steer, young neutered male cattle primarily raised for beef. In the terminology used to describe the sex and age......
Steinheim skull
Steinheim skull, human fossil remnant found in 1933 along the Murr River about 20 km (12 miles) north of Stuttgart,......
Suffolk
Suffolk, smallest draft-horse breed, which originated in Suffolk, Eng. Descended from the medieval “great horse,”......
Suffolk
Suffolk, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep developed in England during the years 1800 to 1850 by......
suid
suid, any member of the family Suidae, hoofed mammals, order Artiodactyla, including the wild and domestic pigs.......
Sumatran rhinoceros
Sumatran rhinoceros, (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), one of three Asian species of rhinoceroses and the smallest living......
sun bear
sun bear, (Helarctos malayanus), the smallest bear in the world, found in Southeast Asian forests. It weighs only......
suslik
suslik, any of the 13 species of Eurasian ground squirrels belonging to the genus...
Sussex spaniel
Sussex spaniel, breed of sporting dog developed in Great Britain in the late 18th century; like other land spaniels,......
swamp monkey
swamp monkey, (Allenopithecus nigroviridis), small heavily built primate of the Congo River basin. It is dark olive......
tabby
tabby, type of dark-striped coat colouring found in both wild and domestic cats. One of the most common coat colours,......
taeniodont
taeniodont, any member of an extinct suborder (Taeniodonta) of mammals that lived in North America throughout the......
tahr
tahr, (genus Hemitragus), any of three wary and sure-footed wild goatlike mammals of the family Bovidae (order......
takin
takin, (Budorcas taxicolor), heavily built, hoofed mammal of Southeast Asia, belonging to the family Bovidae (order......
talapoin
talapoin, (genus Miopithecus), either of two small species of monkeys found in swamp forests on each side of the......
tamarau
tamarau, (species Anoa mindorensis), small species of buffalo...

Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title