Placental Mammals, 9 (-BLA
Placental mammal, (infraclass Eutheria), any member of the mammalian group characterized by the presence of a placenta, which facilitates exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood of the mother and that of the fetus. The placentals include all living mammals except marsupials and monotremes. Although some authorities consider the marsupials (cohort Marsupialia) to be placental mammals, these animals have a less-developed, less-efficient type of placenta that limits the gestation period. The true placenta of the placentals allows for a longer developmental period within the protection of the womb, a factor considered to have contributed to the evolutionary success of the group. Fossil evidence shows that the first placental mammals evolved between about 163 million and 157 million years ago during the Jurassic Period (201.3 million to about 145 million years ago).
Placental Mammals Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Cats are among the most beloved pet animals in the world. Second only to dogs as the most common pet of choice,......
aardvark, (Orycteropus afer), stocky African mammal found south of the Sahara Desert in savanna and semiarid areas.......
aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal......
Abyssinian, breed of domestic cat, probably of Egyptian origin, that has been considered to approximate the sacred......
acouchy, (genus Myoprocta), either of two species of South American rodents that resemble the small tropical-forest-dwelling......
adapiform, any of several dozen extinct species of primates of the suborder Strepsirrhini (a group that includes......
addax, (Addax nasomaculatus), the most desert-adapted African antelope, formerly found throughout most of the Sahara......
affenpinscher, breed of toy dog known since the 17th century. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where......
Afghan hound, breed of dog developed as a hunter in the hill country of Afghanistan. It was once thought to have......
African bush elephant, (Loxodonta africana), one of two living species of African elephants (genus Loxodonta) and......
African forest elephant, (Loxodonta cyclotis), one of two living species of African elephants (genus Loxodonta)......
African pouched rat, (subfamily Cricetomyinae), any of five species of African rodents characterized by cheek pouches......
African spiny mouse, (genus Acomys), any of more than a dozen species of small to medium-sized rodents characterized......
African wild dog, (Lycaon pictus), wild African carnivore that differs from the rest of the members of the dog......
African wildcat, (Felis silvestris libyca), small, tabbylike cat (family Felidae) found in open and forested regions......
agouti, (genus Dasyprocta), any of about a dozen species of tropical American rodents resembling the small forest-dwelling......
Airedale Terrier, the largest of the terriers, called the “King of Terriers,” probably descended from the otterhound......
Akita, breed of working dog that originated in the mountains of northern Japan. In 1931 the Japanese government......
Alaskan Malamute, sled dog developed by the Malemiut people of Alaska, from whom it takes its name. The Alaskan......
Albino, colour type of horse, characterized by pink skin and a pure white coat. Unlike some other colour types,......
alpaca, (Vicugna pacos), domesticated South American member of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla),......
American Bully, breed of muscular companion dog (in contrast to a working dog) created in the United States in......
American Quarter Horse, one of the oldest recognized breeds of horses in the United States. The breed originated......
American Saddlebred horse, breed of riding horse possessing several easy riding gaits and great vigour and style.......
American spiny rat, (family Echimyidae), any of at least 80 nocturnal species of medium-sized Central and South......
American Staffordshire Terrier, breed of dog, originally called Staffordshire Terrier when registered with the......
American water spaniel, breed of sporting dog originating in the United States in the late 1800s, bred to retrieve......
pony of the Americas, riding-pony breed used as a child’s mount, developed in the United States in the 1950s by......
Angora goat, breed of domestic goat originating in ancient times in the district of Angora in Asia Minor. The goat’s......
Angus, breed of black, polled beef cattle, for many years known as Aberdeen Angus, originating in northeastern......
anomalure, (family Anomaluridae), any of seven African species of rodents comprising the large anomalures (genus......
anteater, (suborder Vermilingua), any of four species of toothless, insect-eating mammals found in tropical savannas......
antelope, any of numerous Old World grazing and browsing hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae (order......
aoudad, (Ammotragus lervia), North African goatlike mammal of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla). This species......
ape, (superfamily Hominoidea), any tailless primate of the families Hylobatidae (gibbons) and Hominidae (chimpanzees,......
Appaloosa, colour breed of horse popular in the United States. The breed is said to have descended in the Nez Percé......
Arabian horse, earliest improved breed of horse, valued for its speed, stamina, beauty, intelligence, and gentleness.......
Arctic fox, (Vulpes lagopus), northern fox of the family Canidae, found throughout the Arctic region, usually on......
Ardipithecus, the earliest known genus of the zoological family Hominidae (the group that includes humans and excludes......
argali, (Ovis ammon), the largest living wild sheep, native to the highlands of Central Asia. Argali is a Mongolian......
armadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions......
Arsinoitherium, genus of extinct large, primitive, hoofed mammals that have been found as fossils in Egypt in deposits......
artiodactyl, any member of the mammalian order Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungulates, which includes pigs, peccaries,......
- Introduction
- Ungulates, Hoofed Mammals, Herbivores
- Reproduction, Gestation, Offspring
- Foraging, Grazing, Browsing
- Distribution, Habitats, Regions
- Hoofed, Even-Toed, Grazing
- Teeth Structure, Diet, Evolution
- Scent Glands, Hoofed Mammals, Digestive System
- Evolution, Paleontology, Hoofed Mammals
- Even-toed, Ungulates, Hoofed
Asian tree mouse, (subfamily Platacanthomyinae), any of three species of small rodents found only in a few tropical......
Asiatic black bear, (Ursus thibetanus), member of the bear family (Ursidae) found from southern Iran to the Himalayas,......
Asiatic lion, (subspecies Panthera leo leo), population of lions whose geographic range once extended from Turkey......
ass, either of two species belonging to the horse family, Equidae, especially the African wild ass (Equus africanus)......
Asselar man, extinct human known from a skeleton found in 1927 near the French military post of Asselar, French......
aurochs, (Bos primigenius), extinct wild ox of Europe, family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla), from which cattle are......
Australian Cattle Dog, breed of herding dog developed in the 19th century to work with cattle in the demanding......
Australian Shepherd, breed of herding dog that, despite its name, was developed in the western United States in......
Australian terrier, breed of dog that originated as an Australian farm dog. First exhibited in 1885 as the Australian......
Australopithecus, (genus Australopithecus), group of extinct primates closely related to, if not actually ancestors......
Australopithecus sediba, extinct primate species that inhabited southern Africa beginning about 1.98 million years......
avahi, (genus Avahi), long-legged arboreal lemur of Madagascar. Avahis have short arms, a short muzzle, and a round......
aye-aye, (Daubentonia madagascariensis), rare squirrel-like primate of Madagascar, the sole living representative......
Ayrshire, breed of hardy dairy cattle originating in the county of Ayr, Scotland, in the latter part of the 18th......
babirusa, (Babirousa babyrussa), wild East Indian swine, family Suidae (order Artiodactyla), of Celebes and the......
baboon, (genus Papio), any of five species of large, robust, and primarily terrrestrial monkeys found in dry regions......
Bactrian camel, either of two of the three living species of camels inhabiting the steppes and arid regions of......
badger, common name for any of several stout carnivores, most of them members of the weasel family (Mustelidae),......
What is unique about the Baikal seal’s habitat? The Baikal seal is the only living seal that exclusively inhabits......
baleen whale, (suborder Mysticeti), any cetacean possessing unique epidermal modifications of the mouth called......
bamboo rat, any of four Asiatic species of burrowing, slow-moving, nocturnal rodents. Bamboo rats have a robust,......
bandicoot rat, any of five Asiatic species of rodents closely associated with human populations. The greater bandicoot......
banteng, (species Bos banteng), a species of wild Southeast Asian cattle, family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla),......
barasingha, (Cervus duvauceli), graceful deer, belonging to the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found in......
Barb, native horse breed of the Barbary states of North Africa. It is related to, and probably an offshoot of,......
Barbary macaque, (Macaca sylvanus), tailless ground-dwelling monkey that lives in groups in the upland forests......
barbastelle, (genus Barbastella), either of two bats of the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae, found in Europe......
Barylambda, extinct genus of unusual and aberrant mammals found as fossils in deposits in North America in the......
Basenji, ancient breed of hound native to Central Africa, where it has historically lived as a village dog (one......
basilosaurid, any member of the family Basilosauridae, an early group of whales that lived from the middle Eocene......
Basilosaurus, extinct genus of primitive whales of the family Basilosauridae (suborder Archaeoceti) found in Middle......
Basset Hound, breed of dog developed centuries ago in France and long maintained, chiefly in France and Belgium,......
bat, (order Chiroptera), any member of the only group of mammals capable of flight. This ability, coupled with......
bat-eared fox, (species Otocyon megalotis), large-eared fox, belonging to the dog family (Canidae), found in open,......
Batodonoides, genus of extinct insectivorous mammals that lived during the Eocene Epoch (56 to 33.9 million years......
Beagle, small hound dog breed popular as both a pet and a hunter. It looks like a small foxhound and has large......
beaked whale, (family Ziphiidae), any of more than 20 species of medium-sized toothed whales that have an extended......
bear, (family Ursidae), any of eight species of large short-tailed carnivores found in the Americas, Europe, and......
bearded collie, dog breed developed in Great Britain for herding sheep and driving cattle to market; it is one......
bearded seal, (Erignathus barbatus), nonmigratory seal of the family Phocidae, distinguished by the bushy, bristly......
beaver, (genus Castor), either of two species of amphibious rodents native to North America, Europe, and Asia.......
Bedlington terrier, breed of dog developed in the 1800s in Northumberland, England, and named for Bedlingtonshire,......
All modern domestic cattle are believed to belong to the species Bos taurus (European breeds such as Shorthorn......
beisa, African antelope, a race of the species Oryx gazella. See ...
Belgian horse, breed of heavy draft horse descended from the Flemish “great horse,” the medieval battle horse native......
Belgian Malinois, breed of herding and working dog developed in the Malines area of Belgium in the 1800s. The Belgian......
Belgian sheepdog, working dog developed in the village of Groenendaal, Belgium, in 1885. A long-haired black dog,......
beluga, (Delphinapterus leucas), a small, toothed whale found mainly in the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean......
Bengal tiger, (subspecies Panthera tigris tigris), subspecies of tiger (Pantheria tigris) inhabiting the hot and......
Berkshire, breed of domestic pig originating in England, where in the early 19th century the name “Berkshire” became......
Bernese Mountain Dog, breed of Swiss working dog taken to Switzerland more than 2,000 years ago by invading Romans.......
Bichon Frise, breed of small dog noted for its fluffy coat and cheerful disposition. For many centuries it was......
bighorn sheep, (Ovis canadensis), stocky, climbing hoofed mammal of western North America known for its massive......
binturong, (Arctictis binturong), catlike omnivore of the civet family (Viverridae), found in dense forests of......
birch mouse, (genus Sicista), any of 13 species of small, long-tailed mouselike rodents. Birch mice live in the......
bison, (genus Bison), either of two species of oxlike grazing mammals that constitute the genus Bison of the family......
black bear, (Ursus americanus), the most common bear (family Ursidae), found in the forests of North America, including......