Mammals
Latest Feature Articles
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Desert Mammals and Desert Ecology
The desert covers close to one-fifth of the Earth's dry land making it the largest terrestrial biome and is home to a surprisingly large number of mammals.
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Bat-eared Fox Facts – Otocyon megalotis
The bat-eared fox is so named due to the size of its ears in comparison with its head. Ear length ranges from 114mm-135mm.
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Springhare Facts – Pedetes capensis
The strong hind legs of the springhare make it look like a small kangaroo. The springhare gets its name from these hind legs and the way it leaps.
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Llamas are Used for Fleece and as Pack Animals
Related to alpacas, Llamas are bred for their fleece and used as pack animals. But did you know they make excellent guards against coyotes and other carnivorous mammals?
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Diseases Known to Affect Alpacas - Vicugna pacos
Prevention of common alpaca diseases is by means of vaccinations, drenching and good husbandry.
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Running and Breeding Alpacas for Fleece
Alpacas were domesticated from members of the camel family from South America for the use of their warm, soft fleece.
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Red Kangaroo - The Largest Living Marsupial
Discover how the red kangaroo, the largest of the kangaroo species, lives, fights, jumps, breeds and how it is capable of arresting development of its young in the womb.
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Mammalian Reproduction and Offspring Care
Mammals generally invest heavily in raising their offspring and this determines how they choose their mates and also how often they can breed.
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Various Methods of Mammalian Locomotion
The various ways that mammals move around is diverse. They swim, run, crawl, walk, hop and some even fly.
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Koala Facts - Phascolarctos cinereus
The koala is a small nocturnal marsupial that lives in eucalyptus trees along the south-eastern coast of Australia.
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Mediterranean Monk Seal Facts- Monachus monachus
According to the IUCN, one in six Mediterranean mammals face extinction due to habitat destruction, climate change and agriculture. Among the endangered is the Monk Seal.
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Why do Whales Beach Themselves?
Beached whales often die despite the best efforts of those trying save them. Often the damage is already done as a result of being out of the water.
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Humpback Whale Facts – Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback whales are among the largest of the rorqual whales. These mammals derived their name due to their dorsal fins, which can be swelled into humps by fat deposits
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Aggressive Behaviour of Livestock Animals
Despite being domesticated, livestock animals can still show signs of aggression just like any other animal and need to be handled with caution and respect.
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The Importance of Enriching Captive Primates
Providing enrichment encourages more natural behaviours in mammals and minimizes unwanted behaviours such as fighting and self-mutilation.
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Echolocation in Bats – Order Chiroptera
The saying "blind as a bat" isn't truly accurate. Discover how bats use echolocation to navigate and find prey and how some male bats sing like birds to attract females.
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Tasmanian Devil - Largest Marsupial Carnivore
This mammal that earned its common name due to its blood-curdling scream is under threat by a disease that causes cancerous facial tumours & leads to death within months.
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Grassland Mammals and Prairie Ecology
Whether they are called prairies, savannahs, the pampas, the veldt or the steppes, grasslands can be found on all continents and house herbivorous and carnivorous mammals
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Polar Bear Facts– Ursus maritimus
Learn how the world's largest land carnivore catches its prey, travels over ice and through water, how it breeds, and the effect global warming may have on this mammal.
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Chimpanzee Facts - Pan troglodytes
The Chimpanzee & Human evolutionary pathway split 6 million years ago, and yet there are still many similarities between these mammals that share around 98% of their DNA
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Spotted Hyena Facts - Crocuta crocuta
The laughing hyena has had a rough deal when portrayed in animated movies as stupid and savage; however, there is more to this animal than meets the eye.
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Mammals, Monotremes and Marsupials
Mammals are arguably the most diverse group within the animal kingdom. They range in size and shape from huge whales to tiny mice and inhabit both land and sea.
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Why the Giraffe Has Such a Long Neck
The giraffe is the world's tallest land mammal, growing to approximately 5-6 meters tall. Their long necks are used for feeding, fighting and ritualistic displays.
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What is a Lemming and Do They Commit Suicide?
Lemmings have been the subject of computer games, comics and various jokes due to the belief that they participate in mass suicides.
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Echolocation in Whales and Dolphins
Most people have heard CDs filled with whale sounds or songs. While it is a unique and relaxing sound, these chirps and clicks mean a lot more to whales than relaxation.
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