Mammals
KNOWN SPECIES
6,615
0.28% of our world's living things are mammals
CHARACTERISTICS
- animals with a backbone (vertebrates)
- they produce milk for their young
- they have bodies covered with hair
SIZE RANGE
Less than 2.4 inches to more than 108 feet (6 centimeters to more than 33 meters)
WHERE THEY LIVE
- mainly on land
- some live in oceans and fresh water
Here are just SOME of the world’s mammals:
![Sticker about size](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_size_sticker/5943375-2-eng-US/mammals_size_sticker_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_size_sticker/5943375-2-eng-US/mammals_size_sticker_full_990.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_size_sticker/5943375-2-eng-US/mammals_size_sticker_full_1468.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_size_sticker/5943375-2-eng-US/mammals_size_sticker_full_1980.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_size_sticker/5943375-2-eng-US/mammals_size_sticker_full_2475.png 600w)
orca
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Orcinus orca
![Black and white whale swimming](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_orca/5942250-1-eng-US/mammals_orca_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_orca/5942250-1-eng-US/mammals_orca_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_orca/5942250-1-eng-US/mammals_orca_full_1468.png 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_orca/5942250-1-eng-US/mammals_orca_full_1980.png 1601w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_orca/5942250-1-eng-US/mammals_orca_full_2475.png 1601w)
caracal
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Caracal caracal
![Tall, slender big cat](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_caracal/5942230-1-eng-US/mammals_caracal_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_caracal/5942230-1-eng-US/mammals_caracal_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_caracal/5942230-1-eng-US/mammals_caracal_full_1468.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_caracal/5942230-1-eng-US/mammals_caracal_full_1980.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_caracal/5942230-1-eng-US/mammals_caracal_full_2475.png 1101w)
reticulated giraffe
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Giraffa reticulata
![giraffe laying down](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_giraffe/5942238-1-eng-US/mammals_giraffe_full_495.png 457w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_giraffe/5942238-1-eng-US/mammals_giraffe_full_990.png 901w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_giraffe/5942238-1-eng-US/mammals_giraffe_full_1468.png 901w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_giraffe/5942238-1-eng-US/mammals_giraffe_full_1980.png 901w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_giraffe/5942238-1-eng-US/mammals_giraffe_full_2475.png 901w)
human
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Homo sapiens
![Young child wearing blue shirt and standing](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_human/5942246-1-eng-US/mammals_human_full_495.png 204w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_human/5942246-1-eng-US/mammals_human_full_990.png 401w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_human/5942246-1-eng-US/mammals_human_full_1468.png 401w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_human/5942246-1-eng-US/mammals_human_full_1980.png 401w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_human/5942246-1-eng-US/mammals_human_full_2475.png 401w)
dog
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Canis familiaris
![Light-brown dog sitting looking cute](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_dog/5942234-2-eng-US/mammals_dog_full_495.png 305w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_dog/5942234-2-eng-US/mammals_dog_full_990.png 601w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_dog/5942234-2-eng-US/mammals_dog_full_1468.png 601w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_dog/5942234-2-eng-US/mammals_dog_full_1980.png 601w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_dog/5942234-2-eng-US/mammals_dog_full_2475.png 601w)
giant panda
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
![Black and white bear standing](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_panda/5942254-1-eng-US/mammals_panda_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_panda/5942254-1-eng-US/mammals_panda_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_panda/5942254-1-eng-US/mammals_panda_full_1468.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_panda/5942254-1-eng-US/mammals_panda_full_1980.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_panda/5942254-1-eng-US/mammals_panda_full_2475.png 1101w)
warthog
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Phacochoerus africanus
![Mammal with long hair and snout](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_warthog/5943060-1-eng-US/mammals_warthog_full_495.png 416w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_warthog/5943060-1-eng-US/mammals_warthog_full_990.png 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_warthog/5943060-1-eng-US/mammals_warthog_full_1468.png 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_warthog/5943060-1-eng-US/mammals_warthog_full_1980.png 820w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_warthog/5943060-1-eng-US/mammals_warthog_full_2475.png 820w)
green acouchi
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Myoprocta acouchy
![Brown rodent casually sitting](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_green_acouchi/5942242-1-eng-US/mammals_green_acouchi_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_green_acouchi/5942242-1-eng-US/mammals_green_acouchi_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_green_acouchi/5942242-1-eng-US/mammals_green_acouchi_full_1468.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_green_acouchi/5942242-1-eng-US/mammals_green_acouchi_full_1980.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_green_acouchi/5942242-1-eng-US/mammals_green_acouchi_full_2475.png 1101w)
aye-aye
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Daubentonia madagascariensis
![Hairy squirrel-like mammal](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_aye-aye/5942226-1-eng-US/mammals_aye-aye_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_aye-aye/5942226-1-eng-US/mammals_aye-aye_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_aye-aye/5942226-1-eng-US/mammals_aye-aye_full_1468.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_aye-aye/5942226-1-eng-US/mammals_aye-aye_full_1980.png 1101w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/mammals/mammals_aye-aye/5942226-1-eng-US/mammals_aye-aye_full_2475.png 1101w)
Guess what?
Genetic studies have suggested that hippopotamuses are closely related to whales and dolphins.
Image Credits:
Aye-aye, M. Shanley/© AMNH; caracal, © Derek Keats/CC BY 2.0; dog, © Karen Taber; green acouchi, giant panda, reticulated giraffe, warthog, John White/© California Academy of Sciences; human, © Shutterstock; orca, © Sabine Templeton/CC BY-NC.