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study guide 306 mammal lecture exam

Introduction to Mammals

  • Basic characteristics of mammals

  • Unique traits of mammals

Key Terms

  • Mammary glands: Specialized glands responsible for milk production.

  • Dentary bones: Lower jawbones in mammals.

  • Inner ear bones: Bones essential for hearing, including the malleus, incus, and stapes.

  • Pinnae: External ear structures that help collect sound.

  • Endothermy: Ability to maintain a constant body temperature independent of the environment.

  • Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity, often involving lowered metabolism and body temperature.

  • Dental formula: Representation of the number and types of teeth in mammals.

  • Neocortex: Part of the brain associated with higher-level brain functions.

  • Vibrissae: Whiskers or specialized hairs used for tactile sensing.

Compare/Contrast

  • Homeothermy vs. Heterothermy

    • Homeothermy: constant body temperature

    • Heterothermy: variable body temperature

  • Locomotion Types:

    • Plantigrade: walking on the soles of the feet (e.g., humans)

    • Digitigrade: walking on toes (e.g., dogs)

    • Unguligrade: walking on hooves (e.g., deer)

Groups of Mammals

  • Monotremes & Marsupials

    • Total living mammal species: 6,410

    • Number of mammal orders: 27

    • Most diverse orders: Rodentia (first), Chiroptera (second)

Taxonomic Ranks

  • Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Monotremes and Marsupials

  • Characteristics of living monotremes and marsupials

  • Global distribution and key traits of the Virginia opossum and order Didelphimorphia.

Key Terms

  • Cloaca: A single opening for excretion and reproduction.

  • Epipubic bones: Bones present in some marsupials.

  • Echidna: A spiny monotreme.

  • Platypus: A unique egg-laying mammal.

  • Venomous spur: Found in male platypuses, used for defense.

  • Marsupium: Pouch in marsupials where infants develop.

  • Opposable hallux: A toe that can grasp, enhancing grip.

  • Prehensile tail: Tail used for grasping and holding.

Compare/Contrast

  • Monotremes vs. Marsupials vs. Placental mammals.

Armadillos, Shrews, and Moles

  • Overview: Basic characteristics and distribution of orders Cingulata (armadillos) and Eulipotyphla (shrews and moles).

Key Terms

  • Homodont dentition: Teeth are of similar type.

  • Fossorial: Adapted for digging.

  • Venomous saliva: Present in short-tailed shrews.

  • Sensory tentacles: Found on star-nosed moles.

Comparison

  • Shrew vs. Mole characteristics.

Bats

  • Characteristics of order Chiroptera and global distribution.

  • Benefits and negative impacts of bats on ecosystems and people.

Key Terms

  • Daily torpor: Short-term reduction of metabolic rate.

  • Patagium: Membrane extending from the body to wing in bats.

  • Uropatagium: Membrane between the hind legs.

  • Tragus: Small projection in the ear, important for echolocation.

  • Calcar: Cartilage supporting the patagium.

  • Echolocation: Method used by bats to navigate using sound.

  • Flying fox: A type of fruit bat.

  • White-nose syndrome: Fungal disease affecting bats.

  • Barotrauma: Injury caused by rapid pressure changes.

Wisconsin Bats

  • Characteristics of family Vespertilionidae.

  • Conservation status of Wisconsin bat species.

Key Terms

  • Delayed fertilization: A reproductive strategy in bats.

Comparison

  • Cave bats vs. Tree bats.

Lagomorphs

  • Overview of order Lagomorpha and family Leporidae.

  • Characteristics and distribution of Wisconsin lagomorphs.

  • Ecological importance and potential negative impacts of lagomorphs.

Key Terms

  • Rostral fenestration: Skull feature in lagomorphs.

  • Diastema: Gap between teeth.

  • Coprophagy: Eating feces to aid digestion.

  • Pika: Mountain-dwelling lagomorph.

  • Induced ovulation: Ovulation triggered by mating.

  • Precocial vs. Altricial: Developmental states of young.

  • 10-year cycle: Population fluctuation pattern.

  • Warren: Burrow system.

Comparison

  • Hare vs. Rabbit.

Rodents

  • Order Rodentia overview and global distribution.

  • Ecological impact of rodents.

Key Terms

  • Ecosystem engineer: Species that shape their environment.

  • Sylvatic plague and Hantavirus: Diseases associated with rodents.

Wisconsin Rodents

  • Family characteristics of Sciuridae, Castoridae, Geomyidae, etc.

Key Terms

  • Scatter hoarder: Rodent behavior for food storage.

Carnivores

  • Overview of order Carnivora characteristics and distribution.

  • Wisconsin carnivore families: Mustelidae, Mephitidae, etc.

  • Ecological benefits and detriments of carnivores.

Key Terms

  • Carnassial pair: Specialized teeth for shearing.

  • Baculum: Bone found in the penis of some mammals.

  • Trophic cascade: Ecological phenomenon triggered by changes in the population of predators.

  • Keystone species: species that play a critical role in maintaining the structure of a community.

  • Delayed implantation: Delaying of embryo implant in uterus.

  • Extirpated: Species no longer found in a specific area.

  • Delisted: Removed from the endangered species list.

Comparison

  • Retractile vs. Non-retractile claws.

  • Delayed implantation vs. Delayed fertilization.

  • Hibernation vs. Winter torpor.

  • Carnivore vs. Omnivore.

  • Wolf vs. Coyote, Bobcat vs. Lynx, Canid vs. Felid.

Even-Toed Ungulates

  • Overview of order Artiodactyla characteristics and distribution.

  • Families: Suidae, Bovidae, Cervidae, etc.

  • Conservation status and distribution of Wisconsin ungulates.

Key Terms

  • Unguligrade: Walk on hooves.

  • Rumination: Process of digesting food in multiple stages.

  • Chronic Wasting Disease: A fatal neurological disease in deer.

Comparison

  • Antler vs. Horn characteristics.

  • Bovid vs. Cervid.

Other Mammal Orders

  • Details of lesser-known orders including their characteristics, global distribution, diet types, and unique features.

Conservation

  • Areas with high mammal species richness and endangered species.

  • Indonesia: Country with the most mammal species and endangered species.

Wisconsin Species

  • Examples of federally threatened, endangered, and delisted species in Wisconsin.

  • Discussion on risk factors for species endangerment.

Key Terms

  • IUCN Red List: Classification of species at risk of extinction.

Comparison

  • Extinct vs. Extinct in the Wild: Understanding species status.

  • Federally vs. State Threatened/Endangered: Differences in legislation and protection.