Questions tagged [mammals]
Questions related to mammals, animals that nurse their young, have a neocortex, and three middle ear bones.
173
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Are there poisons that affect only mammals but not reptiles
Are there poisons that affect only mammals but not reptiles or crustaceans?
E.g. hemotoxins which affect hemoglobin but not hemocyanin or specific Na+ channels?
Looking for a "nice" poison/disease as ...
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How Many Animals Are Typically Killed in a 100,000+ Acre Wildfire?
As of June 24, the Woodbury wildfire in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains has burned 112,000 acres.
This news site has photos and an interactive map of the area:
It has been burning since June 8.
...
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Non-hair synapsid integument
Anybody noticed that mammal skin (both with hair and without hair) has an irregular scaly pattern when seen up really close? If so, may it have been retained from its pelycosaur and even reptiliomorph ...
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1answer
89 views
How exactly does symbolic language for apes work?
I'm talking about the panels with lots of colored symbols on them you sometimes see in documentaries and the like. Apes point at the symbols in a specific order and in this way can communicate with ...
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1answer
37 views
Limbs in synapsids
Within synapsids, there was a change from a lizard-like sprawling posture (like in pelycosaurs) to a more erect stance. Non-eucynodont eutherapsids seem to have had a facultatively erect hindlimb and ...
4
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1answer
69 views
How are the first mammary glands thought to have functioned?
I happened upon a book (not about biology) containing this text:
A life-changing birth occurred on the planet about 190 million years ago [...] the first tiny shrew like creature brought forth an ...
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2answers
103 views
Why aren't mammals and reptiles considered amphibians?
We've all heard it: birds descend from dinosaurs, so they're dinosaurs too. But this got me thinking: doesn't this mean that, for instance, all terrestrial vertebrates – including humans – are ...
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1answer
130 views
Why do some animals have beards?
Why do some animals such as some Goats, Ibex, Orangutan etc, have long well-shaped beard like men?
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1answer
50 views
Are there known life expectancy differences in non human mammals by sex?
In humans either for biological or cultural reasons there are life expectancy differences by sex. But how about non human mammals? Are there known life expectancy differences in non human mammals by ...
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0answers
39 views
What do chimpz/bonobos/orangutangs/gorillas feed their babies with?
I just read this question and it made me curious about what a more original baby diet would look like. So, at what age do our closest relatives in the animal kingdom start giving their offspring more ...
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0answers
90 views
Which mammal produces the most milk?
I'm searching for mammal who can produce most milk whenever she lactate. I Googled it but it says dairy cattle which biologically speaking is not right answer, because a baby whale can drink up to 150 ...
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0answers
57 views
Are humans the only primates being engaged in group sex?
There are quite many examples of humans being involved in group sex. I won't say it is a common thing and won't say whether it is "natural" or "cultural" (but "cultural" only means induced to majority ...
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0answers
167 views
How old is the action of sneezing?
Is there an estimate for when the ability of sneezing evolved? A little bit of research, and some critical review of my memories tell me that:
Many, if not maybe all mammals sneeze.
Some reptiles ...
19
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2answers
5k views
Why is wombat excreta shaped like cubes?
I've heard that wombat excreta is cube shaped, but I don't understand how that can happen. Has anyone studied the phenomenon? What would the evolutionary pressure have been to cause this?
2
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1answer
209 views
Are bears related to dogs in a similar way to how cats are related to 'panthers'?
I've tried searching on Wikipedia but I couldn't find what family dogs belonged to. Ursidae is 'bears' and Canis is 'dogs' ; Panthera is big cats like:- tigers and jaguars is what I know.
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1answer
447 views
Is there any known reason why 6 leg mammals are only found in mutations? [duplicate]
Taking a look in internet you can find photos of mutated mammals with 6 legs. Some cows with legs in unnatural positions were shown in website versions of widely known newspapers (you can easily guess ...
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3answers
77 views
Could a mammal convert ingested dissolved CO2 to usable energy?
I'm trying to find out if it's possible that a mammal could orally ingest dissolved CO2 and convert it to energy for body heat, organ function, etc.
Unfortunately, most of the scientific sources I've ...
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0answers
72 views
How “unique” human vagina is?
Regading penis Dixson showed that it is not really unique and complex. This argument (and there were some others) was used against the idea of human polygynandry.
But what about vaginal shape? I know ...
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0answers
24 views
When did placental mammals arrive in North America?
I saw a documentary with a lot of details about the replacement of marsupial bears and wolves of the Americas with placental ones. I can't find information about them, does someone have some ...
4
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1answer
91 views
How does the bear mother ensure her cubs don't escape during hibernation?
I have some questions relating to bears- more specifically, the brown bears we have in Scandinavia.
When they go into hibernation, do they fall asleep as we know falling asleep? If a bear mother ...
2
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0answers
79 views
What is the closest relative to odd-toed ungulate?
I have seen about 3 variation of phylogenetic tree about odd-toed ungulate and I don't know which one is really updated or outdated or which one have more backed up theory
First is odd-toed ungulate ...
4
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0answers
38 views
What do groundhogs and other subsurface-tunnel dwelling creatures do in heavy rains to avoid harm?
I notice groundhogs and many other tunneling creatures in my yard, the same yard which became pretty flooded during heavy rainfall. I don't see wildlife out during rain storms, but not long after, ...
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0answers
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Is there any data to explore the heterozygosity of the South African lion over the last 18 years?
Background:
I need to find data on the heterozygosity of the south African lion over the last 18 years... and I'm struggling: so far I have found a single data point.
Question:
Where can I find ...
2
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0answers
29 views
Do marsupials ever die in childbirth?
Question: Do marsupials ever die in childbirth?
Obviously the notion of there being a linear ordering of "least advanced" to "most advanced" life forms isn't correct. Still, often marsupials are ...
8
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1answer
336 views
Identify this vertebra
I was walking on the beach in New Jersey (U.S.), at about 40 degrees longitude, and found this bone. It's not a fish. The long process in the front is interesting. It is likely a C2 vertebra. I looked ...
8
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1answer
104 views
Do individual mammal hairs absorb water?
In my look into the world of shaving I've seen claims that it is better to shave after a shower because the hairs will absorb water and soften, making the shave easier. Likewise, I've seen it claimed ...
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1answer
87 views
When you lose weight, how does the mass exit your body?
As a thought experiment, consider the case of Angus Barbiery, who allegedly lost almost 200kg in about a year by not eating at all, save for necessary nutrients provided as supplements.
My question ...
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0answers
34 views
Are there mainstream views on the mandrill's coloration's being so unique?
According to the Wikipedia article:
Mandrills are noted as being exceptionally colourful for mammalian
standards. Charles Darwin wrote in The Descent of Man that "no other
member in the whole ...
2
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0answers
59 views
Are insects really strong or just small?
It's a common statement that insects are stronger, faster and jump higher than almost anything by mass.
However, this leaves out that compared to their mass, all large creatures are actually pretty ...
3
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1answer
256 views
When did the mammalian outer ear evolve?
All Eutheria and Metatheria have outer ears, and as far as I found out, monotremes once also had them, so they seem to be universal for mammals. Did other synapsids have them, too?
I know that soft ...
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2answers
129 views
Why are monotremes so rare?
There are currently only five species of monotremes remaining, and all of them are found in Australia. Additionally, I read a science article claiming that competition from marsupials essentially ...
4
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1answer
56 views
Can bats echolocation discern what insects they are preying on?
Insectivorous bats feed on many different types of insects such as mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and bees. According to the Bat Conservation Trust, bats can discern insects from other objects but I'm ...
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1answer
105 views
Is there any research on wolf and bobcat interactions?
I'm studying interactions between North American predators, specifically wolves, coyotes and bobcats.
There's evidence from data I've collected from game cameras that suggests a significant ...
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2answers
613 views
Why do animals have fur and feathers?
Does it give them protections from harm?
Sphynx cats, being furless, can get hurt from thorns if they go through bushes
So I'm assuming it's more like defense from animals biting them.
A lion mane ...
7
votes
2answers
100 views
What British bat is this?
What kind of bat is this? I saw it flying quickly between trees in Buckinghamshire, UK, at about 4pm in September (so about three hours before sunset). I think it might be a common noctule but I was ...
3
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2answers
126 views
Have there ever been as many mammals as there are now?
I apologize for the weird question, but based on a Google search it looks like this topic hasn't been discussed before. I'm hoping that enough information about population biology is stored in the ...
3
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0answers
105 views
Mammalian scales
Many small mammals have scaly skin on their tails and sometimes limbs. The examples can be found among rodents (rats, degu, scaly-tailed squirrels), insectivores (shrews, desmans), oppossums, musky ...
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1answer
103 views
Do squirrels and blue jays play a role in oak tree distribution?
White oak (Quercas alba) acorns have lower tannin levels than red oak (Quercas rubra) acorns, therefore animals tend to eat the white oak acorns before red oak acorns. Animals such as squirrels and ...
4
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1answer
138 views
Can platypuses communicate via electroreception?
I know at least some electroreceptive fish are capable of basic communication with other members of their species via varying their own bioelectric signals. However, I can't find any information as ...
4
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3answers
146 views
What processes regulate the sex of offspring?
It is known that some species are more likely to born male than female (and some maybe vice versa). I understand that it is due to evolutionary perspective (average number of adult males is close to ...
0
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1answer
49 views
Albino elephants
How many albino elephants are there across the world? There is no information on the total number of albino elephants across the world except for the few albino elephants captured by people.
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0answers
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Tests for object size discrimination in mammals?
Are there common testing protocols for establishing whether an animal (mammals especially) can distinguish the size of objects? In particular, are there procedures or is there good literature on ways ...
9
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1answer
1k views
Picture of a camel's red blood cells
I'm an art student in need of a little help. I'm looking for microscopic pictures of camel's red blood cells, I need their shape for an art project.
The pictures I find on Google seem a little ...
0
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1answer
29 views
Do the individual claws of a bear have names?
The question seems pretty self-explanatory (if perhaps a little odd). Anatomical names or colloquial names are both appreciated, especially the latter if they exist.
1
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0answers
134 views
How do marine mammals stay hydrated?
This is a question that has always bothered me. A quick internet search yields "metabolic processes" as the reason for how marine mammals obtain water, but what are those processes and why don't land ...
1
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1answer
36 views
Do Pthirus gorillae remain in gorilla leaf nests after gorillas migrate and abandon them?
Gorillas build leaf nests to sleep in. Do the lice which parasitise gorillas, Pthirus gorilla, remain in gorilla leaf nests after gorillas migrate to new regions (and abandon the old nests)?
19
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4answers
588 views
What sea animal is this?
I am in a remote village and a young boy (second pic holding tail) says this thing is his friend. This creature is safe, we held it for pictures and released it after. None of us know what this is and ...
5
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1answer
103 views
Where to begin studying Biology in earnest, with preferably free sources?
I am a biology enthusiast and would like to study Biology in earnest. I have basic knowledge of biology (high school level) and some extended knowledge of small animals, mainly about mammals as I am ...
2
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1answer
128 views
Why do sea mammals die on land, and drown on sea?
It's quite confusing to me, why do sea mammals die on land, but also die from drowning if they couldn't reach the sea surface to breath?
Excuse my ignorance but I am really confused!
5
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1answer
964 views
Whose horns are these?
Can anyone please help me identify these horns?
I guess they belonged to either European or Asian species. I don't know anything about their history -- they are my grandparents' who are from Moscow, ...
