Questions tagged [mammals]
Questions related to mammals, animals that nurse their young, have a neocortex, and three middle ear bones.
2
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0answers
31 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 ...
1
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0answers
68 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 ...
-1
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0answers
25 views
Can meerkats swim?
Can meerkats swim? I've been doing a bit of looking at animals that can and cannot swim, and it looks like most mammals can swim. However, I was never able to find any relevant information on meerkats,...
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0answers
36 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 ...
3
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0answers
51 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
82 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.
0
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1answer
107 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 ...
0
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3answers
73 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 ...
0
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0answers
61 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 ...
0
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0answers
18 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
votes
1answer
74 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
61 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
votes
0answers
31 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, ...
1
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0answers
16 views
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
votes
0answers
23 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
votes
1answer
203 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
votes
1answer
91 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 ...
-1
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1answer
76 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 ...
1
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0answers
31 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
216 views
Nucleated vs. non-nucleated red blood cells [duplicate]
Red blood cells in humans are biconvex and devoid of a nucleus, which I have read is to accommodate more oxygen-carrying haemoglobin. However in other animal classes like Aves and Pisces, they are ...
1
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0answers
55 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
votes
1answer
137 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 ...
1
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2answers
84 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
votes
1answer
53 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
94 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 ...
-2
votes
2answers
416 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
93 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
votes
2answers
120 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
votes
0answers
84 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
88 views
Does any species of monkey resemble the typical cartoon monkey?
Cartoons usually depict monkeys with dark brown fur and a uniformly peach-colored face and belly. For example:
Curious George: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/Curious_George.png (it ...
1
vote
1answer
74 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
votes
1answer
95 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
votes
3answers
135 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
votes
1answer
48 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.
1
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0answers
10 views
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
votes
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
votes
1answer
28 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
98 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
vote
1answer
35 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
votes
4answers
522 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
votes
1answer
86 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
votes
1answer
116 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
votes
1answer
604 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, ...
4
votes
0answers
46 views
Is the skin of feline jungle predators protected against ants?
I was watching a video of a jaguar stalking along a riverbank, killing prey, climbing up the muddy bank, then laying in thick brush to eat. My first thought about this is that there must be tons of ...
2
votes
0answers
55 views
Basic behaviour patterns of animals for a modeling project?
I am working on a project (a tool) for my GIS class that models natural habitat of an animal based on landcovers, distance to the nearest watersource and distance from developed area in Kansas, USA. I ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Which variables are controlled in the mammalian womb to ensure a healthy environment?
Recently, researchers have had some success with artificial wombs. Which aspects of the womb are difficult to replicate through technology?
5
votes
1answer
944 views
Are there examples of animals that live in groups, where all have the same role?
For animals that live in groups, are there examples where all of them have the same role? For example, in animals we know there are bee queens or alpha, beta and omega mammals. But are there groups of ...
3
votes
1answer
6k views
Why do Guinea Pigs chirp / sing?
Ok, so this appears to be quite a mystery. Me and my girlfriend have 2 Guinea Pigs, 1 male and 1 female.
My girlfriend once picked up the female one and took her outside into our garden. The Guinea ...
6
votes
2answers
616 views
Are humans the only mammals that are known to display homosexuality?
REQUEST: In this post I do not refer to, nor do I encourage reference to, any ethical/moral/emotional aspects of homosexuality. So please don't start an pro/anti- LGBT campaign in the comments section....
