däggdjursordningar

Däggdjursordningar is the Swedish term for mammalian orders. Mammalia is a class of warm-blooded vertebrate animals distinguished by the presence of mammary glands which in the female produce milk for feeding their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. Mammals are a diverse group, occupying a wide range of ecological niches across the globe. These animals are broadly classified into orders based on shared anatomical and evolutionary characteristics.

There are currently around 26 recognized mammalian orders, though this number can vary slightly depending on the classification system used. Some of the most well-known orders include Primates, which encompasses monkeys, apes, and humans; Carnivora, including lions, tigers, wolves, and dogs; Rodentia, the largest mammalian order by species count, featuring mice, rats, squirrels, and beavers; Cetacea, comprising whales, dolphins, and porpoises; and Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates like deer, cattle, and pigs. Other significant orders include Chiroptera (bats), Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates like horses and rhinoceroses), and Monotremata, an unusual order of egg-laying mammals such as the platypus and echidna. The study of these orders helps scientists understand the evolutionary history and relationships among the vast array of mammal species.