WILDLIFE: MAMMALS
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Mammals are animals that
have warm-blood, fur or hair
and usually have live babies. A
few mammals lay eggs rather
than giving birth to live babies,
including the platypus and the
spiny anteater. All mammals
have some type of body hair or
fur, though marine mammals,
like dolphins and whales, are
almost hairless.
Over 5,500 species of mammals have been recorded to
date, compared to more than
28,000 species of fish and over
1,000,000 species of insects.
Many mammal babies are
helpless when first born, but a
few species, including zebras
and moose, can walk from the
day they are born. Marsupial
WORLD ANIMAL FOUNDATION ®
babies, like kangaroos and opossum, are born as small as a pinkie
nail and move to their mother's
pouch to mature. All mammal babies drink milk from their mothers.
Mammals maintain their body
temperatures to just about the
same temperature all the time, despite the temperature outside their
bodies. Warm blood allows mammals to be very active and live in a
wide variety of environments.
Fur and fat help protect mammals
in the cold, while sweating or
panting releases extra heat for
mammals in hot conditions.
FASCINATING MAMMAL FACTS
THE BIGGEST
The blue whale,
measuring up to
110 feet long and
weighing up to
419,000 pounds, is
the largest mammal
living today. It is
also the largest
mammal to have
ever lived....larger
than even the biggest dinosaur. The
largest land animal
today is the African elephant, standing up to 13 feet tall and
weighing over 15,000 pounds. The extinct Paraceratherium, a
hornless rhinoceros which stood around 17 feet at the shoulder
and weighed about 33,000 pounds, is thought to have been the
largest land mammal to have ever roamed the earth. The tallest
mammals are giraffes, towering up to 20 feet tall.
THE SMALLEST
The smallest mammals are tinier than many insects. The bumblebee bat is only about 1.14 inches long and weighs a mere 0.07oz
or less, while the white-toothed pygmy shrew, the smallest land
mammal, is only .09oz or less.
THE FASTEST
The fastest land animal is the cheetah, reaching speeds of 70
mph. The fasted flying mammal is the big brown bat, flying at
speeds of 15.5 mph. The fastest mammal in water is the orca,
swimming up to 34 mph.
THE LONGEST LIVED
Human beings can live longer than any other mammal, while
whales can live up to 100 years.
TOOLS & WEAPONS
AMAZINGLY SMART
Squirrels have been observed hiding their odors from snakes
by chewing on the outer layer of snakeskin and smearing it all
over their fur. They also pretend to bury food in one spot, then
store the food elsewhere, to fake out potential thieves. Mother
squirrels are so protective of their babies that they kick the fathers out of the nests for the spring and summer, but may allow them back to bunk with the family during winter.
THEIR OWN LANGUAGE
Prairie dogs speak to one another in a language which includes
nouns and verbs and has different dialects depending on where
they’re from. Wolves cry out from distress when they miss an
absent member of their pack. They communicate not only by
sound, but also by body language. They use social cooperation
and generalized rules to conduct and plan coordinated attacks.
Bears use tools, play with objects and have been known to use
weapons against other animals. Bears enjoy staring at scenic vistas such as sunsets, lakes and mountains. They grieve when a
family member dies, moaning and crying for weeks.
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
Like computers, rats have short-term, random-access memories
that store information used in ongoing processes. They are empathetic to each other, help other rats in distress and share food.
They respond with their whiskers to vibrations. Rats take care of
injured and sick rats and without companionship they become
lonely and depressed. Rats laugh when they play and chatter or
grind their teeth when happy. They groom themselves and their
friends and family members for several hour each day. Rats can
go longer than a camel without water. Their tails help them to
balance, communicate and regulate their body temperature.
ELEPHANTS SPEAK
Much of elephants’ complex language is based on infrasound – below the level of human hearing – and enables
separated family members to communicate with each other
over vast distances. They can also imitate human speech,
despite having a trunk instead of lips. When an elephant is
stressed, other elephants offer physical and vocal comfort,
including hugs, kisses and soothing sounds. They mourn
the deaths of their loved ones and perform rituals, holding
vigils over the body for days and covering the deceased
with leaves and branches. They react the same way when
mourning humans. Elephants have been known to die of
broken hearts after the death of a family member, friend or
mate. They have the ability to use different objects in creative ways without being taught. They have been known to
clean their food and use tools in various ways in the wild.
Elephants self-medicate, play with a sense of humor, perform artistic activities, use tools and display compassion
and self-awareness.
AMAZING APES
Apes and other primates use a special sign language to communicate with
each other, and are also able to use standard sign language to communicate
with humans. They have been taught to be fluent in English, some understanding over 2,000 words and able to sign over 1,000 words. They understand the meaning of the signs and use them in creative ways. They can
comment on abstract ideas, express self-awareness, intelligence and emotions. Apes remember people, names, places, tasks and puzzles. They make
and use tools, including spears for hunting, and have impressive problemsolving skills. They cooperate on projects like seeking food and making
shelter, live in highly organized societies, can appreciate a beautiful sunset
and mourn the death of loved ones. They have even been known to keep
"pets".
Orangutans recognize themselves in mirrors. They make and use a variety of
tools for foraging, honey collection and protection against insects. They
drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho and use sticks to “fish” for branches or fruit that are out of reach and to extract
seeds from fruit. They use leaves as napkins and gloves and fashion seat
cushions from natural materials. Males plan their travel route in advance
and communicate it to other orangutans. Cultural traditions are learned and
passed down. They are capable of whistling music, opening locks, communicating with humans through sign language, using fork and spoons, blowing out candles, washing clothes, rowing boats, cooking and using Ipads.
Chimps have traditions that are often specific to only one group. They
communicate with body language, exhibit self-awareness and express
emotions, including laughing when they play and crying when they grieve.
They outperform humans on numerous short-term memory tests. Orphans
are adopted by their aunts, older siblings, or other members of their tribe
who teach them how to find natural antibiotics, avoid poisonous plants and
build tree nests.
MARINE MAMMALS
Marine mammals include cetaceans and pinnipeds. Dolphins, whales and porpoises are
"cetaceans." Walruses, sea lions and seals are "pinnipeds". While they must breathe air
like all mammals, marine mammals can stay underwater for up to two hours before surfacing for air. Dolphins and whales breath air through blowholes, while walruses, seals
and sea lions breath through their nose and mouth.
Seals have scored better than adult humans at logical reasoning tests. Ringed seals build
snow caves above their breathing holes in the ice to protect their young from predators.
Orcas brains are more emotionally developed than those of humans. The limbic system
— the layers of interconnecting tissue that processes emotions — have grown elaborately compared to those in the human brain. They have a level of social culture that rivals humans. Dolphin brains are larger and,
in some ways, more complex than human brains. Dolphins have been taught to speak human words. Their own language allows
them to trace other dolphins up to six miles away. They even have names for one another. They have such significant brain power it
stops them from sleeping. They use tools and pass their knowledge through a family line. They reason, problem-solve and comprehend ideas. They use nonlinear math formulas when catching prey. They blow bubbles that vary in exact amplitudes to detect fish,
then subtract values found with their echolocation to confirm the target. They follow ships to collect fish churned up their wake, and ride bow-waves like human
surfers. They play catch, tag and other games with each other, and also enjoy
playing with other animals. Dolphins swim onto the nose of humpback whales,
who then raise themselves out of the water so the dolphins slide down their heads
- both animals enjoy the game. Dolphins form complex social groups. They plan
ahead. They crave physical attention and stroke each other with their flippers.
Dolphins and whales communicate with a variety of low sounds that humans cannot hear. They also use echolocation – sending sounds through water to bounce
off objects to determine their shape, size and distance.