Why do pigs belong to Class Mammalia?

Pigs belong to Class Mammalia because they possess all the defining characteristics of mammals:

1. Hair or Fur: Pigs have hair, albeit short and sparse compared to other mammals.

2. Mammary Glands: Female pigs have mammary glands that produce milk to nourish their young.

3. Live Birth: Pigs give birth to live young, unlike reptiles or birds which lay eggs.

4. Endothermic: Pigs are warm-blooded, meaning they can regulate their own body temperature internally.

5. Three Middle Ear Bones: Pigs have three bones in their middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes), a characteristic shared by all mammals.

6. Four-Chambered Heart: Pigs have a four-chambered heart, separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, which is another defining feature of mammals.

7. Diaphragm: Pigs have a diaphragm, a muscle that aids in breathing.

These shared characteristics place pigs firmly within the class Mammalia, alongside humans, dogs, cats, whales, bats, and many other diverse species.