MAMMALS

"There are nearly 5000 species of mammals, and they have evolved into a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Bats have taken to the air and developed remarkable capabilities for echolocation. And some, notably seals, dolphins, and whales, have become permanent inhabitants of the world's oceans. We are probably most familiar with the larger species, such as the gray kangaroo. In fact most mammals are small. Thus, shrews, moles, mice, rats, and squirrels are highly diverse on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Over much of the late Pleistocene world, early humans wiped out hundreds of species through overhunting and possibly through disease. Today, habitat destruction has placed many contemporary species at risk. How much will the lives of future generations be diminished if we allow lemurs, tigers, and giant ant eaters, and other endangered animals, to follow the path to extinction? "