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Mammalogy
Modern Mammal Characteristics
Term | Definition |
---|---|
What Lead To The Rapid Diversification and Expansion of Mammals in the Cenozoic Era? | Extinction of dinosaurs; Break-up of Pangea |
Most Modern Orders Have Been Around Since... | Eocene Epoch |
Most Modern Families Have Been Around Since... | Miocene Epoch |
Skeletal Characteristics | Enlarged Temporal Opening; Maxillary and palatine bones extended laterally; Two occipital condyles; Limbs beneath body; lost cervical and lumbar ribs; lost thoracic ribs, also smaller; reduced carpal and tarsal bones; three ossicles in middle ear |
Dentary Characteristics | Enlarged dentary bone; heterodont teeth; dentary-squamosal articulation |
Soft Tissue Characteristics | Fur; Four chamber heart with left aortic arch; Muscular diaphragm; Mammary glands; Enucleated red blood cells; Corpus callosum (some); Placenta (some); Homeothermy |