Introduction
Mammals are among the most diverse, adaptable, and fascinating classes of animals on our planet. Found in virtually every habitat – from the depths of the oceans to the soaring heights of mountains, from frigid polar ice caps to arid deserts – mammals have evolved a myriad of forms and functions that make them unique. In this article, we’ll take a journey through the vast world of mammals, understanding their defining features, evolutionary history, and the ecological roles they play.
Evolutionary History
Mammals belong to the class Mammalia and have a rich evolutionary lineage dating back over 200 million years. Early mammal-like reptiles, called therapsids, gave rise to the first true mammals during the late Triassic period. These ancient mammals were small, nocturnal creatures. The dominance of dinosaurs during the Mesozoic era limited the niches available to mammals, but the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event 65 million years ago led to the decline of the dinosaurs and allowed mammals to diversify and fill various ecological roles.