Mammal Matters
This bone, found in most male mammals (but not humans or horses), helps facilitate prolonged mating.
What is the baculum?
These teeth used for grinding food.
What are molars?
These are the three main groups/classifications of squirrels.
What are ground, flying, and tree squirrels?
Canids typically do this action to capture their prey
What is chase?
This vascular tissue surrounds a growing deer antler
What is velvet?
While often called "warm-blooded," the more accurate scientific term for mammals' ability to generate heat internally and maintain a constant body temperature.
What is endothermy or endothermic?
This state of decreased metabolic activity and lowered body temperature allows mammals to survive food shortages in winter.
What is torpor or hibernation?
This rodent prefers freshwater wetland habitat with 4-6 feet of water year-round
What is a muskrat?
This species of fox has a special talent and the talent is tree climbing!
This species is the only North American marsupial
What is the Virginia Opossum?
This temporary organ allows for nutrient and gas exchange between the mother and fetus in the largest group of mammals.
What is the placenta?
This term describes mammals that are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.
What is crepuscular?
These teeth in mammals are rootless and constantly growing
What are incisors?
Animals in this family are obligate carnivores
What is felidae?
Feral hogs were introduced to the United States from this country
What is Spain?
These "extant" mammals, such as the platypus, are the only group that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
What are the monotremes?
These teeth are used to pierce and rip flesh.
What are canines?
This rodent is the only true hibernator on the species list for this course
These carnivore dads are especially faithful to their mate and attentive to their pups
What are coyotes?
Social hierarchy is positively correlated with this in members of the Cervidae family
What is body size?
In most mammals, the jaw articulation consists of these two pairs of bones, unlike reptiles
What is the dentary-squamosal jaw articulation?
The number of chambers in a mammal heart.
What is four?
Beavers have this clear membrane to cover their eyes and allow them to swim with their eyes open
What is a nictitating membrane?
Striped skunks' preferred food source
What is insects and worms?
While most mammals produce fraternal or single offspring, the nine-banded armadillo exhibits this specific developmental process, producing a litter of four 'clones' from one zygote.
What is monozygotic polyembryony?