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HowStuffWorks Life Science Guide  Tags: science howstuffworks animal animals animal_facts animal_information evolution life_science science_explanations cells plants biology ecology conservation genetics heredity humans anatomy botany atoms biodiversity biomes  

From the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, Life Science explores the origins, evolution and expansion of life in all its forms. Explore a wide range of topics from animal profiles to genetics and human Biology.
Last update: Nov 18th, 2008 URL: http://hsw.libguides.com/lifescience-guide  Print Guide  RSS Updates

Mammals             Print Page
  
 

Canines

Canines have pointed snouts and a use their large, conical teeth for tearing and grinding their food. See how dogs and other canines work in our collection of canine articles.

 

Small Carnivores

 

Primates

Primates are placental mammals that include gorillas, monkeys and chimpanzees, as well as humans. Other than humans, primates are found mostly in Central and South America, Africa, and South Asia.

 

Other Mammals

 
 

Bears

Bears are part of the Mammalia Class and are within the order Carnivora. There are only 8 living species of bear and each has stocky legs a long snout, thick shaggy hair and five non-retractile claws.

  • How Polar Bears Work  
      
    The polar bear's shocking whiteness, ferocity and sheer size make it an icon of purity and power. How do these animals survive in a frigid climate?
  • Why don't Pandas hibernate?  
      
    They call the creature a bear. And bears are known to hibernate each winter. So why don't pandas slip into the same cold-weather stupor? Are they really even bears at all?
  • Why is the birthrate so low for giant pandas?  
      
    Since 1990, there have been only five panda cubs born in the United States. This may seem a little low. Getting pandas to mate in captivity is extremely difficult. Why is the birth rate for giant pandas so low?
  • 15 Tips for Surviving a Bear Encounter  
      
    Bears are typically just as scared of us as we are of them. Knowing more about the behavior of bears can help you to understand why a bear would attack in the first place. Respect their boundaries and use these 15 tips for surviving a bear encounter.
  • Bears  
      
    A bear is a large, heavily built mammal with shaggy fur and a short tail.
  • Pandas  
      
    A Panda is a type of two mammals in Asia.
  • Polar Bears (Video)  
      
    Learn more about polar bears in this video from Discovery.
  • Bears Go Fishing (Video)  
      
    Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet's hit show, the Jeff Corwin Experience, watches a bear feed from a stream.
  • Panda Bear Birth (Video)  
      
    Watch this Reuters video to see one of the most amazing things you'll ever see -- the birth of a newborn giant panda. OK, so he wasn't giant when he was born, but he'll grow to weigh nearly 275lbs.
  • How to Run From a Grizzly (Video)  
      
    Marlin Perkins and Stan Brock, from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, have their hands full when they rope a grizzly, especially after the bear gets loose! Neither the bear nor the hosts were harmed in this film.
  • Surviving a Bear Attack (Video)  
      
    Survival Expert, Les Stroud, shows us how to survive around predators such as Mountain Lions and Bears.
 

Big Cats

Big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs all have the distinguishing characteristic of being able to roar. Read our articles and watch videos and slideshow galleries of big cats.

  • Image Gallery: Big Cats  
      
    View amazing photos of different types of big cats with this image gallery.
  • Image Gallery: Tigers  
      
    View amazing photos of different types of tigers with this image gallery.
  • Is there such a thing as a man-eating lion?  
      
    The king of the jungle has been known to salivate at the sight of a tasty human. But are these stories of lions wreaking havoc on people in Africa true?
  • What makes a cheetah run so fast?  
      
    Any animal that can go from zero to 40 mph in three strides must have a very specialized body. Why can cheetahs run so fast, and how does their ability make them vulnerable?
  • Bobcat  
      
    A Bobcat is a member of the cat family found in North America from southern Canada to central Mexico.
  • Caracal  
      
    A Caracal is a type of lynx native to Africa and the warmer parts of Asia.
  • Cats  
      
    Cats are meat-eating animals that may be domesticated or wild.
  • Cheetah  
      
    The Cheetah is now found in the wild only in isolated areas of the Middle East and regions close by to the north and south.
  • Cougar  
      
    Cougars are large cats found in various parts of North and South America.
  • Genet  
      
    The Genet is a small mammal native to Africa and is closely related to the mongoose.
  • Jaguar  
      
    The Jaguar is the largest cat of the Western Hemisphere.
  • Leopard  
      
    The Leopard is a meat-eating animal of Africa, Asia, and the East Indies.
  • Lion  
      
    The Lion is a large meat-eating animal of Africa and India.
  • Lynx  
      
    The Lynx is a member of the cat family found in temperate and colder areas.
  • Panther  
      
    Panther is a name applied to certain members of the cat family.
  • Tiger  
      
    Tiger is the largest member of the cat family.
  • Wildcat  
      
    A Wildcat is any of the many kinds of small, undomesticated cats.
  • Lions (Video)  
      
    Do the maneless lions of Tsavo deserve their reputation for agressiveness towards humans? Watch this video to learn more about these unique and dangerous animals.
  • Lion Dads (Video)  
      
    Lion dads lead a pretty good life. Their primary job is to mate with multiple female lions, sit around and look good, and let all the lionesses do the hunting and hard work. Their time, however, is limited.
  • Tigers (Video)  
      
    From the archives of Discovery: Tigers are some of the largest and most dangerous animals on the planet. Learn more about tigers in this video from Discovery.
  • Cougars (Video)  
      
    The widely-dispersed cougar is the perfect hunter, having superb speed, agility, hearing, and strength. See the cougar's amazing attributes in this video from Animal Planet.
  • Florida Panther Preservation (Video)  
      
    Watch this video courtesy of Duke University showing a successful program that saved the Florida Panther in the southeast. To prevent further in-breeding, researchers brought in other panthers from Texas to mate with the panthers in the southeast.
  • Leopards & Lions (Video)  
      
    From the archives of Discovery: A leopard has a near-fatal encounter with a lioness. Learn more about leopards and lions in this video.
 

Marsupials

Marsupials are mammals that commonly bear a pouch such as Kangaroos and Koala Bears. Two thirds of marsupial species are found in Australia.

  • Do Koalas smell like cough drops?  
      
    If you can get past a koala's pungent scent of urine and mating-musk, you might detect a faint hint of cough drops. Why do koalas smell like they'd clear out your sinuses?
  • What's the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo?  
      
    If you want to determine whether you've got your hands on a wallaby or a kangaroo, you're going to have to pry open the animal's mouth and examine its molars.
  • Why do kangaroos hop?  
      
    Million-dollar endorsement deals or a sneaker named the Air Roo aren't in the cards for kangaroos. Since these animals can't play in any Final Four championships, why do they hop?
  • Kangaroo  
      
    A Kangaroo is a mammal native to Australia and nearby islands.
  • Koala  
      
    The Koala is an Australian marsupial that lives in trees.
  • Tasmanian Devil  
      
    The Tasmanian Devil is a flesh-eating animal found in Tasmania.
  • Wombat  
      
    The Wombat is a mammal of Australia and is also a marsupial.
  • Pygmy Opossum (Video)  
      
    Watch this Reuters video showing a new animal - a Cercartetus pygmy opossum - that scientists found on a recent trip to the Foja Mountains of Indonesia, dubbed the Lost World. The opossum is one of the world's smallest marsupials.
  • Scenic Outback (Video)  
      
    From the archives of Discovery: The Australian outback is filled with diverse and unique forms of life, such as the kangaroo. Learn more about the outback.
 

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Bats

Bats are the only flying mammal. Learn about these peculiar and misunderstood animals in this section.

 

Insectivores

Insectivores are carnivorous mammals that survive by eating almost nothing but small insects. Insectivores include bats, frogs, lizards and anteaters.

 

Rodents

Nearly 40% of mammal species are rodents, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks and beavers, among others.

 
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