List Of Mammals

List Of Mammals With Pictures & Facts: Examples Of Mammal Species

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On this page is a list of mammals with pictures and facts. Included are examples of mammal species from all of the main mammalian groups.

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Introduction To Mammals

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Mammals Pictures
Examples of mammals. Find out more about these and other animals in the list below.

Mammals are vertebrate animals in the class Mammalia. The main external characteristics of mammals that separate them from other animal groups are the presence of fur or hair, and the ability of females to produce milk via mammary glands.

How Many Mammal Species Are There?

There are around 6,400 living mammal species, divided into three main groups: monotremes, marsupials (Metatheria), and placental mammals (Eutheria).

Monotremes Vs Marsupials Vs Placental Mammals

Monotremes are egg-laying mammals, while both placentals and marsupials give birth to live young. The young of marsupials are born at a relatively early stage of development, and undergo further development in a special pouch in their mother’s body.

Terrestrial, Aquatic And Flying Mammals

The first mammals were land animals, and most living mammals are terrestrial (land-dwelling).

However, one mammal group, the cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises.) returned to the sea and became fully-aquatic. Other mammals evolved to live in aquatic or marine habitats (e.g., seals, otters, hippos, the polar bear).

Only one group of mammals, the bats, are capable of powered flight, and some others (e.g., flying squirrels, marsupial gliders and colugos) are able to glide.

  • Confused by words such as “class” and “order”? These and other animal groups are explained on this page: Animal Classification

Below is a list of mammals containing notable species from the main mammalian groups.

List Of Mammals

African Bush Elephant

African bush elephant and calf

  • Scientific name: Loxodonta Africana
  • Type of mammal: Proboscidea
  • Conservation status: Endangered

The African bush elephant, also known as the African savanna elephant, is not just the world’s largest living land mammal, it’s the largest of all land animals.

A large male African bush elephant can weigh up to 10.4 metric tonnes / 11.46 short tons (22,928.08 lb.).

Both male and female African bush elephants have tusks, although those of the male are significantly larger. An elephant’s tusks are elongated teeth that grow from the upper jaw.

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Blue Whale

Blue Whale Swimming

  • Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus
  • Type of mammal: Cetacean
  • Conservation status: Endangered

The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth; it’s heavier than the largest dinosaur. The species can weigh up to 199 tonnes / 219.3 short tons, yet its diet consists almost entirely of small crustaceans called krill.

The blue whale is endangered due to historic overhunting. The species was once hunted almost to extinction.

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Brown Rat

Brown Rat
Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
  • Scientific name: Rattus norvegicus
  • Type of mammal: Rodent
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The brown rat is one of the largest members of the family Muridae, which includes the world’s rats, mice and gerbils. Muridae contains over 1,300 species, making it the largest rodent family.

Rodents belong to the order Rodentia, which is the largest order within Mammalia. (In other words, there are more rodents than there are any other type of mammal.)

The brown rat originated in China, but is now found on all continents except for Antarctica. This is due to its ability to live alongside humans and to out-compete native species.

The brown rat can be distinguished from the related black rat by its larger size, proportionally smaller eyes and ears, and its body length being longer than its tail length (with the black rat the opposite is true).

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Brown-Throated Sloth

Brown Throated Sloth
Brown Throated Sloth
  • Scientific name: Bradypus variegatus
  • Type of mammal: Xenarthra (a superorder that includes sloths, anteaters and armadillos)
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The brown-throated sloth is one of six species of living sloths, and one of four species of three-toed sloths (the remaining two sloths are of the two-toed variety). It is found in several forest types in Central and South America, and is present in the Amazon Rainforest.

Like other sloths, the brown-throated sloth is a slow-moving animal that spends up to three-quarters of its life sleeping.

Numerous adaptations allow it to hang upside-down from a branch for hours at a time. The sloth is so slow-moving that its fur is home to numerous species, including the sloth moth, Cryptoses choloepi.

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Cat (Domestic)

Domestic Cat

  • Scientific name: Felis catus
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran
  • Conservation status: Domestic

The domestic cat is thought to have originated from wildcats that were tamed around 9,000 to 10,000 years ago. It is the only member of the cat family Felidae to have become fully domesticated.

The cat family Felidae is part of the order Carnivora. This group of mammals also includes the world’s dogs, bears, weasels, seals, and several other related groups.

The domestic cat is one of the world’s most popular pets. Part of its appeal is that it retains a hint of ‘wildness’ that betrays its origins as an effective predator of small mammals and birds. Cats have excellent night vision and are able to hear sounds that are too high to be detected by human ears.

A downside of widespread cat ownership is the negative effect these capable predators have on local wildlife.

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Cheetah

Cheetah

  • Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran
  • Conservation status: Vulnerable

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of up to 75 mph (120 km/h). It uses its great speed to capture its prey, which consists of other fast-moving animals such as antelopes and hares.

The cheetah’s yellow coat is covered with distinctive black spots. The spots provide camouflage, breaking up the animal’s outline against grasses and other foliage.

The cheetah is a member of the Felidae (cat) family. Although one of the larger cats, it is not considered to be a ‘big cat’ as it is neither a member of the subfamily Pantherinae, nor a member of the genus Panthera.

The cheetah’s closet relatives are the puma and the jaguarundi.

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Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee

  • Scientific name: Pan troglodytes
  • Type of mammal: Primate
  • Conservation status: Endangered

The chimpanzee is a primate that lives in the forests of central Africa. It is our closest living relative, sharing around 98% of our genes. It belongs to the great ape family Hominidae, along with humans, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans.

Hominidae is part of the order Primates. This group of mammals also includes the world’s monkeys, gibbons, lemurs, lorises, and other related animals.

The chimpanzee is among the very few animals known to use tools. Individuals have been observed using sticks and stones to capture or prepare food.

The chimpanzee is endangered primarily due to illegal poaching. Despite being protected, the species is targeted by local hunters for its meat.

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Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

  • Scientific name: Tursiops truncatus
  • Type of mammal: Cetacean
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The common bottlenose dolphin is one of the best-known members of the family Delphinidae, a group otherwise known as the “oceanic dolphins”. With 30 species, Delphinidae is the largest dolphin family.

Delphinidae is part of a group of mammals known as cetaceans. Other cetaceans include whales and porpoises.

Cetaceans are marine mammals. Although their ancestors were land animals, cetaceans are entirely aquatic. Their bodies are streamlined and fish-like and their entire life-cycle is spent in the water.

However, because they have lungs rather than gills, cetaceans still have to come up to the surface to breathe.

The brains of dolphins are among the largest – in relation to body size – of any animal. Dolphins are highly-intelligent animals, capable of teamwork, teaching, learning, and problem solving.

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Dog (Domestic)

Pet Dog
Dogs are one of
  • Scientific name: Canis lupus / Canis familiaris
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran
  • Conservation status: Domestic

Some biologists regard the domestic dog as a subspecies of gray wolf (Canis lupus), while others regard it as being a species in its own right (Canis familiaris).

Whether or not it is still the same species, the domestic dog is descended from wolves that became domesticated over 15,000 years ago.

Dogs are kept as pets in many parts of the world, and are also used by humans in roles such as guard dogs, guide dogs and sniffer dogs.

Dogs make up the family Canidae, which, along with cats, weasels, bears, seals, and other related animals, belongs to the order Carnivora.

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European Hedgehog

Hedgehog

  • Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus
  • Type of mammal: Member of order Eulipotyphla
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The European hedgehog is one of 17 hedgehog species. It is found throughout western Europe and much of Scandinavia. Although it has a global conservation status of Least Concern, the European hedgehog’s population has undergone a rapid decline in the UK.

Hedgehogs are mammals in the family Erinaceidae, which also includes moonrats.

All hedgehogs have a coat of protective spines, which are stiffened hairs. If threatened, a hedgehog is able to roll into a ball in order to protect its vulnerable face and undersides.

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Harbor Seal

harbor seal on ice floe
A harbor seal rests on sea ice on the Canadian coast.
  • Scientific name: Phoca vitulina
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran (Pinniped)
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

There are two main groups of seals: earless, or true seals (family Phocidae) and eared seals / sea lions (family Otariidae).

Earless seals are more adapted for an aquatic existence than their eared cousins, but are ungainly on land, having to pull themselves along with their front flippers. Eared seals and sealions are able to reverse their hind flippers, allowing them to walk on all fours.

The harbor seal is an earless / true seal found in temperate and Arctic coastlines throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. It also makes its way into estuaries and rivers. The harbor seal’s diet consists mainly of fish, but it will also eat crustaceans and mollusks.

All seals, together with the walrus, belong to Pinnipedia, a group of mammals whose members are known as pinnipeds. Pinnipedia is a sub-group of the order Carnivora.

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Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

  • Scientific name: Hippopotamus amphibius
  • Type of mammal: Even-Toed Ungulate (member of order Artiodactyla)
  • Conservation status: Vulnerable

The hippopotamus, or “hippo” is one of the world’s best-known mammals. It is also one of the largest; only elephants and some rhinos are larger.

The hippopotamus’s name is derived from the ancient Greek for ‘river horse’, and refers to the species’ semi-aquatic lifestyle. The species spends most of the day bathing in water or mud, only emerging at dusk when the temperature is cooler.

A smaller hippo species, the pygmy hippo, lives in Africa’s rainforests.

The hippos’ closest relatives in the animal kingdom are the Cetaceans – the group of mammals that includes whales and porpoises.

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Horse

Horse

  • Scientific name: Equus caballus
  • Type of mammal: Odd-toed ungulate (member of order Perissodactyla)
  • Conservation status: Domestic

The horse is a hoofed mammal belonging to the order Perissodactyla. Members of this order are known as “odd-toed ungulates” due to their having an odd-number of weight-bearing toes.

Other odd-toed ungulates include rhinos and tapirs.

The horse belongs to the horse family, Equidae, which also contains donkeys and zebras.

Horses were first domesticated around 6,000 years ago. Even in modern times they were a common means of transport.

The horse is herbivorous, and cursorial (adapted to running). The highest recorded speed attained by a horse is 43.97 mph / 70.76 km/h.

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Human

Mirror
Look in a mirror to see a human!

 

  • Scientific name: Homo sapiens
  • Type of mammal: Primate
  • Conservation status: n/a

Humans are highly-intelligent members of the great ape family, Hominidae. Their closest relatives are chimpanzees and bonobos.

Humans first appeared some 300,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch. They now inhabit every continent. Humans have explored the oceans, and a small number of humans have also visited space.

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Little Brown Bat

Little Brown Bat

  • Scientific name: Myotis lucifugus
  • Type of mammal: Bat (member of order Chiroptera)
  • Conservation status: Endangered

The order Chiroptera contains the world’s bats. It is the second-largest mammalian order, after Rodentia (rodents). Bats are the only mammals capable of powered, flapping flight.

There are two main types of bats: microbats and megabats. Microbats are able to echolocate (find their way around using sound) and most are insectivores. Megabats tend to be larger and are herbivorous. Very few megabats are able to echolocate.

The little brown bat is a microbat found in North America. It is a small species, with a wingspan of 8 – 10 in. / 20.3 – 25.4 cm. It is often seen flying low with an irregular flight path near forests and water; aquatic insects make up the bulk of its diet in many areas.

Until the early 2,000’s the little brown bat was one of the most common bat species in North America. The emergence and spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that affects hibernating little brown bat colonies, has seen the species’ population plummet. The little brown bat is now an endangered species.

Another threat to the little brown bat (and many other bat species) is the widespread construction of wind turbines.

  • You can find out more about bats on this page: Bat Facts

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North American Porcupine

North American Porcupine

  • Scientific name: Erethizon dorsatum
  • Type of mammal: Rodent
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The North American porcupine is North America’s second-largest rodent (the largest is the North American beaver). This slow-moving mammal is arboreal (tree-dwelling), and usually nocturnal. It is found in Canada, the USA (including Alaska) and Mexico.

Like all porcupines, the North American porcupine has a coat of sharp quills. The quills, which are actually modified hairs, serve as a defense against predators.

The North American porcupine is a member of the New World porcupine family, Erethizontidae. This group of mammals is not closely related to the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae. The spined appearance of both groups is a result of convergent evolution – a process by which unrelated species acquire similar characteristics.

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Northern Flying Squirrel

Northern Flying Squirrel

  • Scientific name: Glaucomys sabrinus
  • Type of mammal: Rodent
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

Although bats are the only mammals capable of true flight, several other mammalian groups have evolved the ability to glide. These include around 50 species in the squirrel family, Sciuridae.

The northern flying squirrel is one of three flying squirrels found in North America. All three belong to the genus Glaucomys.

The northern flying squirrel is found in forests throughout much of Canada and the northern United States. It is a nocturnal omnivore whose diet includes fungi, sap, insects and bird eggs.

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Platypus

Platypus

  • Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
  • Type of mammal: Monotreme
  • Conservation status: Near Threatened

The platypus and the four species of echidna make up the order Monotremata, whose members are known as monotremes. Unlike all other mammals, monotremes reproduce by laying eggs rather than by giving birth to live young.

The platypus is found in streams and other bodies of freshwater in eastern Australia. It forages on the river bed for worms, insect larvae and small crustaceans.

The duck-shaped bill of the platypus is equipped with electroreceptors with which it can sense the movements of its prey. It and the other monotremes are the only land mammals capable of electroreception.

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Polar Bear

Polar Bear

  • Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran
  • Conservation status: Vulnerable

The polar bear is, on average, the largest of the eight species of bear. This distinctive white bear is found within the Arctic Circle in both North America and Europe.

The species is considered to be a marine mammal because it spends much of its time either in the sea or on sea ice.

The polar bear is the most carnivorous bear species. Its diet consists mainly of seals.

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Red Kangaroo

Red Kangaroo

  • Scientific name: Osphranter rufus
  • Type of mammal: Marsupial
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The red kangaroo is not only the largest kangaroo species, it’s also the largest marsupial and Australia’s largest mammal. Some large males exceed 2 m / 6.56 ft. in body length. Males are red-brown in color; females, which are significantly smaller, are gray-blue.

The red kangaroo is found in arid (dry) regions across much of Australia. It is found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannas, deserts and woodlands. It is herbivorous, mainly eating grasses and flowers.

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Short Beaked Echidna

Short Beaked Echidna

  • Scientific name: Tachyglossus aculeatus
  • Type of mammal: Monotreme
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The short-beaked echidna is one of four species of echidna, and the only one found in Australia. The species is also found in New Guinea, along with the other three echidnas.

An insectivore, the short-beaked echidna’s diet consists mainly of ants and termites, which it captures with its long, sticky tongue.

The short-beaked echidna is equipped with powerful front limbs and sturdy claws, which are used both for burrowing and for breaking into insect nests.

Like other monotremes, it reproduces by laying eggs rather than giving birth to live young.

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Springbok

  • Scientific name: Antidorcas marsupialis
  • Type of mammal: Even-Toed Ungulate (member of order Artiodactyla)
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The springbok is a species of antelope common throughout much of southwestern Africa.

The species is known for “pronking” behavior, which involves the animal repeatedly leaping up to 2 m / 6.6 ft. into the air while displaying its bright white rump. Pronking may be a sign to predators that the springbok is fit and healthy and therefore difficult to catch.

The springbok is the national animal of South Africa, and the country’s rugby team are known as the “Springboks”.

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Tiger

Siberian Tiger

  • Scientific name: Panthera tigris
  • Type of mammal: Carnivoran
  • Conservation status: Endangered

The tiger is the largest member of the cat family, Felidae. Most wild tigers are found in southern Asia, although a separate population exists in Siberia.

Tigers are able to live in a wide range of habitats, including both tropical and boreal forests.

Despite being one of the world’s most recognizable animals, the tiger’s wild population consists of under 3,200 adult individuals. The tiger is endangered due to poaching and deforestation.

  • You can find out more about tigers on this page: Tiger Facts

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Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkeys Grooming

  • Scientific name: Chlorocebus pygerythrus
  • Type of mammal: Primate
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

The vervet monkey is found in eastern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa. It lives in savannas, forests and woodlands, and is often found near rivers.

The vervet monkey belongs to the old world monkey family Cercopithecidae. Old world monkeys are found in Asia and Africa, with one species, the Barbary macaque, also found in Europe. They are more closely related to apes than they are to the New World monkeys of the Americas.

Vervet monkeys live in troops of 10 to 38 individuals. Female vervet monkeys stay with their troops for their entire lives. Upon reaching maturity, males leave their family troop and join neighboring groups.

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Virginia Opossum

Virginia Opossum
Photo: Cody Pope, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com)
  • Scientific name: Didelphis virginiana
  • Type of mammal: Marsupial
  • Conservation status: Least Concern

Although around 70% of marsupials are today found in Australasia, marsupials first appeared in the Americas, where many marsupials are still found.

The Virginia opossum is a marsupial found in Central and North America. With a range that extends from Costa Rica to Canada, it is found further north than any other marsupial. It is the only marsupial found in the United States and Canada.

A solitary, nocturnal animal, the Virginia opossum is an omnivore whose diet includes insects, small vertebrates, eggs, and carrion. The species is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, shrublands and urban environments; the Virginia opossum is often found in backyards and parks.

The term ‘playing possum’ comes from the Virginia opossum’s survival strategy of pretending to be dead when threatened.

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You can find out more about mammals and other types of animals on the following pages:

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