Click on the letters below to jump to that section of the mammal
list.
LPZ's mammals are housed at:
Domestic mammals can be seen at the Pritzker Children's Zoo
and the Farm-In-The-Zoo.
Now Open!!
The Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, a state-of-the-art
facility located west of the Waterfowl Lagoon, will be home to more than
200 animals, including 40 species from koalas to African Dwarf Crocodiles.
Now open, the new building features a dramatic glass-enclosed walk-through
ecosystem that will transport visitors to the rivers, savannas and forests
of the world.
What is a mammal?
Although sea lions, porcupines and fruit bats may not seem alike, they
are all mammals. Mammals share several common characteristics. They have
fur or body hair, are warm-blooded, and all nourish their young with milk.
The amount of hair present varies between species of mammals, the result
of adaptation to a specific way of life. The snow leopard from northern
Asia has thick fur which allows it to withstand sub-zero temperatures, while
elephants have almost no hair. Sometimes hair has been adapted for defense,
as in the African crested porcupine whose quills are really stiffened hairs.
 How females provide milk for their young may vary among
mammals. In the echidna, a pore holds milk for the tiny babies to lap up,
while in the gorilla, well developed breasts and nipples are present. You
can watch a variety of mammals nursing young at the zoo, especially in the
spring.
Where do mammals live?
Mammals live everywhere in and on the earth. Seals are aquatic, spending
their lives in the water, while sea lions, also aquatic, have well-developed
flippers that enable them to maneuver on land as well.
Moles and prairie dogs live underground. Some of these subterranean animals
have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell to find protection in the tunnels
and burrows they dig in the soil.
Arboreal mammals live in trees which give them protection from predators
at ground level. Some, like sloths, eat, sleep and bear their young hanging
from branches and rarely venture to the ground. Special characteristics
of these tree-dwelling animals include long arms for swinging and a strong
grasp for climbing and clinging.
Most mammals live on the ground, but some of these terrestrial animals,
like cats, sleep in trees or hunt other animals from this vantage point.
Members of the canine family, many rodents, and the hoofed animals are ground
dwellers.
Adaptation for this life includes good eyesight, excellent hearing, a
well-developed sense of smell and powerful limbs for running and leaping.
In hoofed animals, the ability to run quickly is essential to escape predators
and therefore newborn calves must stand and keep up with the herd a few
hours after birth. |
