View source for Physical World/Mammals - 1

{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:Platypus.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Duck-billed platypus'''


''Ornithorhynchus  anatinus'' 


Egg-laying mammal  endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania

The male platypus  has a spur on the hind foot that delivers venom capable of causing severe  pain to humans
|-
|[[File:Echidna.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Echidna'''


family Tachyglossidae


The four extant  species, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of the  Monotremata order and are the only extant mammals that lay eggs

Also known as  spiny anteaters. Baby echidna is called a puggle
|-
|[[File:Pademelon.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Pademelon'''


genus ''Thylogale'' 

Besides their  smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their  shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails

Usually found in  forests
|-
|[[File:Quokka.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Quokka'''


''Setonix  brachyurus'' 

The quokka is  herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. Quokkas can be found on some smaller islands  off the coast of Western Australia, in particular on Rottnest Island just off  Perth. It is about the size of a domestic cat
|-
|[[File:Potoroo.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Potoroo'''


genus ''Potorous''


A kangaroo-like  marsupial about the size of a rabbit

Gilbert's  potoroo is Australia's most endangered animal
|-
|[[File:Opossum.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Virginia opossum'''


''Didelphis  virginiana'' 


The only marsupial  found in North America north of Mexico. In the United States, it is typically  referred to simply as a possum.  It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat.
|-
|[[File:Bilby.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Bilby'''


genus ''Macrotis''


Also known as rabbit-bandicoot

An Australian desert-dwelling  marsupial omnivore. Bilbies have a long muzzle and very long ears
|-
|[[File:Bandicoot.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Bandicoot'''


order Peramelemorphia


Small to  medium-sized, terrestrial marsupial omnivores. They are endemic to the Australia–New  Guinea region. Name means "pig rat"
|-
|[[File:Tasmanian devil.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Tasmanian devil'''


''Sarcophilus  harrisii'' 


The size of a  small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following  the extinction of the thylacine in 1936

Now found in  the wild only on Tasmania
|-
|[[File:Wombat.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Wombat'''


family Vombatidae


There are  three species of wombat – Common, Northern Hairy-nosed and Southern  Hairy-nosed

Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat was an  unofficial mascot of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
|-
|[[File:Koala.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Koala'''


''Phascolarctos  cinereus'' 


An arboreal herbivorous marsupial. Its closest  living relatives are the wombats. Because their eucalypt diet has limited  nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep for  up to 20 hours a day. Koala is one of the few mammals (other than primates)  that have fingerprints. Name means “no drink"
|-
|[[File:Quoll.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Quoll'''


genus ''Dasyurus'' 


A carnivorous  marsupial native to Australia  and New Guinea. It has a  brown coat with white spots. It  is primarily nocturnal
|-
|[[File:Elephant shrew.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Elephant shrew'''


family Macroscelididae


Small insectivorous mammals native to  Africa. Name name comes from a fancied resemblance between their long noses  and the trunk of an elephant, and an assumed relationship with the shrews

Also known as sengis
|-
|[[File:Tenrec.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Tenrec'''


family Tenrecidae


Tenrecs are  widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution they resemble hedgehogs, shrews,  opossums, mice and even otters

Found on Madagascar  and in parts of the African mainland
|-
|[[File:Golden mole.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Golden mole'''


family Chrysochloridae


Insectivorous  burrowing mammals native to southern Africa. The golden moles bear a resemblance to the marsupial moles of  Australia
|-
|[[File:Aardvark.jpg|none|thumb]]
|'''Aardvark'''


''Orycteropus afer'' 


Feeds almost exclusively on  ants and termites. The name comes from earlier Afrikaans and means ‘earth  pig’. Aardvark is sometimes  colloquially called antbear, anteater, or the Cape anteater
|-
|
|'''Hyrax'''


order Hyracoidea 


They are  often mistaken for rodents, but are more closely related to elephants and manatees.  Four species are recognised; the rock hyrax (pictured), the yellow-spotted  rock hyrax, the western tree hyrax and the southern tree hyrax
|-
|
|'''Borneo elephant'''


''Elephas  maximus''


Also known as  the Borneo pygmy elephant

The Sultan of  Sulu introduced captive elephants to Borneo in the 18th century, which were  released into the jungle
|-
|
|'''Armadillo'''


family Dasypodidae


Some species distinguished by the number of bands on their armour. The  giant armadillo grows up to 150 cm, while the pink fairy armadillo has  an overall length of up to 15 cm. All species are native to the Americas.  Some species roll up into a ball when threatened. The North American  nine-banded armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised
|-
|
|'''Giant anteater'''


''Myrmecophaga  tridactyla'' 


Also known as the ant bear

Native to Central  and South America. All anteaters  have elongated snouts equipped with a thin tongue that can be extended to a  length greater than the length of the head; their tube-shaped mouths have  lips but no teeth
|-
|
|'''Pika'''


family Ochotonidae


Within the order  of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares)

It is also  known as the "whistling hare" due to its high-pitched alarm call  when diving into its burrow
|-
|
|'''Groundhog'''


''Marmota monax''


Also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig,  or land-beaver in some areas  It is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large  ground squirrels known as marmots

Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2
|-
|
|'''Prairie dog'''


genus ''Cynomys'' 

They are a  type of ground squirrel. Burrowing  rodents native to the grasslands of North America

Prairie dogs  are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's  bark
|-
|
|'''Gopher'''


family Geomyidae


Also known as  pocket gophers

Gophers live in Central and North America. They  are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities
|-
|
|'''Kangaroo rat'''


genus ''Dipodomys'' 


The common  name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the  much larger kangaroo, although they are not related. Native to North America
|-
|
|'''Baluchistan  pygmy jerboa'''


''Salpingotulus michaelis''


Also known as  the dwarf three-toed jerboa

Smallest rodent in the world. Adults  average only 4.4 cm (1.7 in) in head and body length
|-
|
|'''Norway lemming'''


''Lemmus lemmus''


The Norway  lemming has a dramatic three- to four-year population cycle, in which the  species' population periodically rises to unsustainable levels, leading to  high mortality, which causes the population to crash again

Lemmings do not commit mass suicide when they  migrate
|-
|
|'''Mara'''


genus ''Dolichotis'' 


A genus of  the cavy family. These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian  steppes of Argentina
|-
|
|'''Capybara'''


''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris''

The largest living rodent in the world (ahead  of the beaver and porcupine). Found wild in much of South America

Very popular  with quiz setters. The Billy Fury of Rodentia
|-
|
|'''Paca'''


genus ''Cuniculus''


Ground-dwelling,  herbivorous rodents found in South and Central America. They are large  rodents with dots and stripes on their sides, short ears, and barely visible  tails. Similar to guinea pigs
|-
|
|'''Degu'''


''Octodon  degus'' 


Small rodent endemic to Chile. It  is sometimes referred to as the brush-tailed  rat

Degus have an intolerance to dietary sugar  and are used in diabetes research
|-
|
|'''Common agouti'''


genus ''Dasyprocta'' 


Native to the Americas. They are related  to guinea pigs and look quite similar, but are larger and have longer legs
|-
|
|'''Colugo'''


family Cynocephalidae


Arboreal gliding mammals found in Southeast  Asia. They are also known as cobegos  or flying lemurs, though they are not  true lemurs. Of all the gliding mammals, the colugos have the most  extensive adaptation to flight. Their gliding membrane, or patagium, is as  large as is geometrically possible
|-
|
|'''Slow loris'''


genus ''Nycticebus'' 


Only venomous  primate. The toxin is  produced by licking a gland on their arm, and the secretion mixes with its  saliva to activate it

The group's  closest relatives are the arboreal slender lorises
|-
|
|'''Galago'''


family Galagidae


Also known as the bushbaby


Galagos have large eyes that give them  good night vision, strong hind limbs, acute hearing, and long tails that help  them balance. Their ears are batlike and allow them to track insects in the  dark
|-
|
|'''Potto'''


''Perodicticus  potto'' 

In the same family as the lorises


The potto  inhabits the canopy of rain forests in tropical Africa. It is nocturnal and  arboreal
|-
|
|'''Ring-tailed lemur'''


''Lemur  catta'' 

The most recognized lemur due to its long,  black and white ringed tail. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the  island of Madagascar and female dominant
|-
|
|'''Aye-aye'''


''Daubentonia  madagascariensis'' 

A lemur native to Madagascar and the  world’s largest nocturnal primate

Aye-ayes tap on the trunks and branches of  the trees, and listen to the echo produced to find hollow chambers inside.  Once a chamber is found, they chew a hole into the wood and get grubs out of  that hole with their narrow and bony middle finger
|-
|
|'''Tarsier'''


genus ''Tarsius''


Tarsiers are  small animals with enormous eyes; each eyeball is approximately 16 mm in  diameter and is as large as its entire brain


Restricted to  several Southeast Asian islands
|}