Mammalian Characteristics and Adaptations

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms related to mammalian characteristics, adaptations, and sensory systems, based on lecture notes.

Endothermy

The characteristic of maintaining a stable internal body temperature, not exclusively mammalian as it's also found in birds.

Energetic cost of endothermy

The absolute energy cost is positively correlated with body size, while mass-specific energy cost is negatively correlated with body size.

Heterotherms

Animals that are not fully endothermic, with body temperatures varying based on the environment.

Facultative Torpor

A state where body temperature drops to conserve energy, such as in hibernating bats.

Lactation

The secretion of milk by mammary glands to nourish offspring, a key mammalian adaptation.

IgG

Maternal immunoglobulins present in milk that provide antimicrobial properties to offspring.

Prolactin & Oxytocin

Hormones responsible for the hormonal control of Lactation.

Mammary Glands

Modified sweat glands in mammalian skin responsible for milk production.

Sebaceous Glands

Glands that secrete oil (sebum) in the skin

Sweat Glands

Glands in the skin that produce sweat for thermoregulation, excretion, and communication.

Vibrissae

Sensory hairs on mammals used for navigation (rats) and trail following (seals)

Postdentary bones

Bones involved in the jaw and middle ear structure of mammals

Middle ear ossicles

The small bones in the middle ear (stapes, incus, malleus) that transmit sound vibrations.

Akinetic skull

Lack of movement bewteen upper jaw and braincase

Maculae of sacculus and utriculus

Structures in the mammalian ear specialized for detecting gravity.

Cristae ampullarae

Structures in the mammalian ear specialized for detecting body movements.

Hair cells

Non-neural secondary sensory cells that mediates mechanoreception and makes up the acoustico-lateralis system of vertebrates

Basilar membrane

The Organ of Corti is located on the _

Tectorial membrane

A gelatinous structure that covers the stereocilia of the hair cells located on the Organ of Corti.

Infrasound

Detection of ultra-low frequency sound

Echolocation/Sonar

A sensory system that involves transmitting and receiving signals, such as in bats.