,Taxonomy overview
Class Mammalia:
1 Subclass Prototheria (monotremes) egg-laying mammals
2 Subclass Theria
2.1 Infraclass Metatheria (marsupials)
2.2 Infraclass Eutheria (placental mammals)
2.2.1 Order Insectivora (insect-eating mammals)
2.2.2 Order Chiroptera (bats)
2.2.3 Order Primates (primates, including humans)
2.2.4 Order Lagomorpha (rabbits & hares)
2.2.5 Order Rodentia (rodents)
,2.2.6 Order Carnivora (carnivores)
2.2.6.1 Family Canidae (dog family)
2.2.6.2 Family Felidae (cat family)
2.2.6.3 Family Mustelidae (otters)
2.2.6.4 Family Viverridae/Herpestidae (mongooses, meerkats, civets)
2.2.6.5 Family Hyaenidae (hyaenas, aardwolf)
2.2.7 Order Proboscidea (elephants)
2.2.8 Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
2.2.9 Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed hoofed mammals)
2.2.10 Order Artiodactyla (even-toed hoofed mammals)
2.11 Order Cetacea (whales, dolphins)
2.11.1 Suborder Odontoceti (toothed ce
2.11.2 Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whal
, Diversity:
• Approximately 6 500 living species
• Among the most highly differentiated groups in animal kingdom
• Domesticated for use as food, clothing, pets, beasts of burden, and
research
• Exotic mammal introductions have usually disrupted the ecology
• In 2023, 1339 species were listed as Threatened