Questions related to mammals, animals that nurse their young, have a neocortex, and three middle ear bones.
18
votes
2answers
4k 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
votes
1answer
42 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
votes
1answer
46 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
votes
3answers
69 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
votes
0answers
55 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
votes
0answers
15 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
54 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
39 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seen about 3 variation of phylogenetic tree about odd-toed ungulate and I don't know which one is really updated or outdated or which one have more backed up theory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
28 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
vote
0answers
15 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
19 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
163 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
81 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
votes
1answer
73 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
vote
0answers
28 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
185 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
vote
0answers
51 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
120 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
vote
2answers
78 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
50 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
81 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
359 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
88 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
115 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
77 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
69 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
61 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
78 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
129 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
45 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
vote
0answers
9 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
984 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
26 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.
0
votes
0answers
76 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
34 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
500 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
83 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
113 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
491 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
45 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
45 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
36 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
869 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
5k 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
574 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....
5
votes
1answer
154 views
Are all non-breeding naked mole rats the same sex?
In many eusocial species, all the non-breeding members are the same sex. Honeybees are a good example, with only female workers.
Are naked mole rats that do not breed also all either male or female, ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between the evolution of fins in whales and fish?
For a homework assignment I received the following question:
Which statement best explains the evolution of fins in whales and fish?
a. The common ancestor of whales and fish possessed genes for ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
Gestation period of African savanna elephants?
I found out it is 22 months for African bush elephants, but is this also true for African savanna elephants?
6
votes
1answer
156 views
What is the biochemistry of love?
How is love induced between humans? (e.g. between mother and child,couples,etc)?
Does the phenomenon of love exist in other mammals, too?
6
votes
0answers
463 views
Squirrel nest construction
I've often wondered how squirrels -- specifically, eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) make their nests. Specifically, I've been curious about how they "weave" everything together to make ...
