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books and stuff for mammals

Books and other stuff that you might be interested in :o)

Rodents

This group comprises about half the worlds living mammals.Dentition highly characteristic-one pair of permanently growing incisors used for gnawing, with enamel confined to the front. No canines, but diastema, where the mouth can be closed off by folds ofskin. Molars usually with complex patterns used in longitudinal or oblique grinding movement.

Lagomorphs

Ground living or burrowing animals with enlarged hind legs. Dentition highly specialised for grazing,permanently growing incisors like rodents but with two upper incisors, diastema, no canines and high crowned cheek teeth. Chewing is transverse unlike rodents.

Insectivores

A group where many primitive characteristics have been retained-small size,plantigrade feet,small brain,long mobile snout,cheek teeth with sharp interlocking cusps for eating insects and worms. In other respects they are very diverse, as can be seen from the three british families.

Chipoptera

Flying mammals with wing membrane supported by elongated 2nd-5th fingers and the hind limb. British bats all belong to the sub order Microchiroptera, which all have the ability to echolocate and are represented by two families, the ""vesper"" bats and the ""horseshoe"" bats.

Carnivores

Typically meat-eating mammals with claws, small incisors and large canines. A pair of carnassial teeth usually developed for cutting and shearing. Powerful jaw muscles with hinged jaw joint.

Pinnipeds

Marine mammals, in a sub-order of carnivores, with simplified teeth and limbs converted to flippers. Highly adapted for diving.

Cetacea

Fully aquatic, mainly marine, mammals with practically no hair but a thick layer of blubber. Fore limbs are paddles, no external hindlimbs, tail enlarged to form swimming organ and lateral flukes. Dorsal fin also present. Skeleton very light and skull highly modified with blow-hole on top of head. Cetaceans have many adaptations for diving and echolocation.

Artiodactyla

Ungulates with the axis of the hooves between the 3rd and 4th digits.

Perissodactyla

Ungulates with the axis of the hooves along the 3rd digit. Herbivores with grinding cheek teeth.

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© Simon Thurgood 2010
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