What Types of Animals Are Mammals?

How Mammals Are Classified

• According to the American Society of Mammalogists, within the taxonomy that scientists use to classify animals, mammals fall under the Class Mammalia in the Phylum Chordata of the Kingdom Animalia. Animals within a class are then further categorized by order, family, genus and species. Some 29 orders of mammals have been identified, with the majority of the 5,416 species of mammals known at the beginning of the 21st century falling into 14 of those 29 orders.

Monotremes

• The five species of the Monotreme Order are the only mammals that lay eggs rather than giving birth to live young. The platypus and echidna are examples of monotremes.

Marsupialia

• Mammals within this order have a short gestation period and a pouch containing a milk-producing nipple, which protects and sustains their young. Marsupials include species such as the koalas, kangaroos, opossums, and wombats.

Insectivora

• These mammals are nocturnal and aren't reliant upon vision for orientation. Species in the Insectivora Order include hedgehogs, moles, tenrecs and shrews.

Chiroptera and Rodentia

• The Chiroptera order is capable of true flight and use echolocation to orientate themselves. Species falling within this order include animals such as bats and flying foxes.

  The Rodentia order contains almost 2,300 species including cavies, mice and rats. This order is characterized as herbaceous with clawed digits and having two incisor teeth on both upper and lower jaws.

Primates

• Primates have a large brain, five-digit hands and feet, and an opposable thumb. They are omnivorous. This order includes human beings, monkeys, the great apes and lemurs.

Edentata and Artiodactyla

• Anteaters, tree sloths and armadillos fall within the Edentata Order. These animals have strong clawed forefeet and a long, sticky tongue.

  Having hooves, even toes, horns or antlers are the animals of the Artiodactyla Order, which includes species such as camels, cattle, hippopotami and deer.

Lagomorpha and Perissodactyla

• Pikas, hares and rabbits comprise the Lagomorpha Order. These animals are herbivorous, with well-developed incisors and stubby tails.

  Herbivorous, hoofed, with odd-toes and grinding teeth are the mammals of the Perissodactyla Order, which include horses, zebras and rhinoceroses.

Carnivora and Sirenia

• This order of mammal is carnivorous, with pointed teeth, a highly-developed sense of smell, and intelligence. Species include animals such as bears, dogs, seals, cats and mongooses.

  Within the Sirenia Order are dugongs and manatees, which are aquatic, herbivorous animals.

Cetacea and Proboscidae

• Cetacea include whales, porpoises and dolphins. These animals migrate seasonally, breathe through a blowhole, give birth at sea and have a strong sense of hearing.

  Elephants are classified in the Order Probosidae and are characterized by their elongated snout, tusks and thick skin.