Mammals – Names and classifications

Worldwide there are about 5,000 species of mammals. Here , depending on how you include migratory and introduced species , the British Isles are home to around 100 species of terrestrial and marine mammals. According to recent studies it is estimated that roughly one in four UK land mammal species are currently threatened with extinction.

A mammal is a warm blooded vertebrate animal belonging to the class Mammalian , given birth to young who are then feed by the production of milk. As with all living species , all mammals have a scientific name with two words based on Greek or Latin. The first word describes the genus or family group , the second name gives that animal its unique name.

Mammal Orders

Most mammals that call these islands home are split into 9 groups or Orders.

Order Rodentia

Includes Squirrels , Dormice , Rats and mice , Voles and Beavers

Order Carnivora

Includes Wild cats , Fox , Badger , Otters , Seals and Weasels

Order Lagomorpha

Includes Rabbits and Hares

Order Artiodactyla

Includes Pigs , Deer , Cattle , Sheep and Goats

Order Erinaceomorpha

The Hedgehog

Order Soricomorpha

Includes shrews and Moles

Order Perissodactyla

Includes Horses and Ponies

Order Chiroptera

The only mammal capable of flight , Bats

Order Cetacea

Includes marine Whales and Dolphins

Mammal family groups

These orders are then broken down further into family groups for example:

Family group Sciuridea

Which includes the two Squirrel species , the native Red and the introduced Grey

Terminology

Native – Occurs naturally

Introduced – Accidentally or deliberately introduced by people

Domesticated – introduced by people and current population managed

Migrant – an individual that moves to find food , shelter or to breed , in terms of mammals this only applies to marine mammals and bats

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