Mammals

Scientifically-speaking there are 11 mammal groups, and most Mammals are warm-blooded, have body hair, give live birth and nurse their young with milk from mammary glands. Check out these articles about all kinds of mammals.

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How Billie the Dolphin Taught Her Flippered Friends to Bust a Move

A dolphin named Billie learned a dolphin-show trick from some captive dolphins, taught her wild friends how to do it and started a fad.

By Jesslyn Shields Sep 11, 2018 Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Don't Hate This Squirrel Because He's Beautiful

The Indian giant squirrel is covered in flamboyant colors like orange, black and bright purple. But why?

By Jamie Allen Aug 31, 2018 Mammals / Rodents

Goats Really Like it When You Smile at Them

Domesticated animals like dogs and horses are known to respond to human facial expressions, but a new study finds that goats also like it when we smile.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 31, 2018 Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

Zombie Gene Protects Elephants From Cancer

A strange evolutionary plot twist has been uncovered in the search for why elephants rarely get cancer.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 24, 2018 Mammals / Other Mammals

Orca Mother Grieves Dead Calf More Than Two Weeks

A mother orca spent more than two weeks clinging to her dead calf. But why?

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 10, 2018 Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Elephants Are Terrified of ... Honeybees?

It used to be assumed that African bush elephants avoided the sound of an angry bee hive. Now researchers believe they have receptors to detect a bee's alarm pheromones.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 2, 2018 Mammals / Other Mammals

Rare Hybrid Whale-dolphin Spotted in Hawaii

Is it a whale ... a dolphin? Is it a whale-pin?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Jul 31, 2018 Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Pot Farming Threatens Adorable Weasel

The Humboldt marten was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1996. Now it is threatened again.

By Jesslyn Shields Jul 12, 2018 Mammals / Other Mammals

Dolphins and Porpoises: They're Different!

Breaking news: Dolphins and porpoises don't actually look very much alike.

By Jesslyn Shields Jun 28, 2018 Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Sloths Only Poop Once a Week — But They Make It a Good One

Once a week or so, sloths climb down from their trees and poop on the ground. It feels so good, they do a little dance. But this time of pleasure is also a time of peril.

By Alia Hoyt Jun 27, 2018 Mammals / Other Mammals

Changing Livestock Feed Might Help Save the Planet

Could such a simple change make a major impact? A new study says it's possible.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jun 20, 2018 Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

It's Gardening Season: 5 Tips to Keep Squirrels Out

Once you accept squirrels aren't going anywhere, you can apply a more creative approach to keeping the critters away from your prized tomatoes.

By Jamie Allen May 31, 2018 Mammals / Rodents

Your Bed Has More Poop Than a Chimp's

Think your bed is cleaner than a chimp's? Researchers at North Carolina State University set out to find the answer.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler May 22, 2018 Mammals / Primates

Deadly Chlamydia Threatens Koalas Down Under

Koala populations in Australia are in decline, in part due to the ravages of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

By Carrie Tatro May 21, 2018 Mammals / Marsupials

A Smart Lemur Is a Popular Lemur

It pays to be brainy when you're a ring-tailed lemur.

By Jesslyn Shields Apr 6, 2018 Mammals / Primates

Platypus Milk: Our Best Hope Against an Antibiotic-Resistant Future

The platypus may look a bit absurd and bizarre, but its milk might hold the secret to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

By Jesslyn Shields Mar 22, 2018 Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Nutria: River Rats Only a Mother Could Love

Nutria are jumbo-sized rodents that reproduce and eat at a jumbo-sized pace.

By Jesslyn Shields Feb 27, 2018 Mammals / Rodents

Will a Coyote Kill My Dog or Cat?

Urban coyotes have a fierce and formidable reputation as midnight predators, but coexistence with humans is possible.

By Carrie Tatro Feb 8, 2018 Mammals / Other Mammals

For Naked Mole Rats, Age Doesn't Increase the Risk of Death

Naked mole rats are famous for their longevity, but they also don't age like the rest of us do.

By Jesslyn Shields Feb 5, 2018 Mammals / Rodents

5 Chimps Who Grew Up in Human Families

Some people mistakenly believe that if chimps are socialized from an early age, they're not a threat to humans. But these five families found out the hard way that chimps will always be chimps.

By Nathan Chandler Mammals / Primates

Squirrels Are Hardwired to 'Dance' When a Car's Coming

Why do squirrels exhibit behavior that can get them killed by cars? And how can you avoid them?

By Jamie Allen Oct 3, 2017 Mammals / Rodents

New Coconut-eating, Tree-dwelling Giant Rat Species Discovered

The first new rat species found in the Solomon Islands in 80 years has been uncovered. But due to deforestation of its habitat, very few may still exist.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 2, 2017 Mammals / Rodents

Squirrels Actually Organize Their Nut Hoard — Here's Why

A new study, along with previous research, suggests squirrels use mnemonic strategies to remember where they put the good nuts.

By Jamie Allen Sep 28, 2017 Mammals / Rodents

New Research Helps Confirm Why Horses Have Single-toed Hooves

Today, horses have one huge toe on each leg — but they weren't always that way. Why the single digit now?

By Kate Kershner Aug 31, 2017 Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

Hedgehog Balloon Syndrome Sounds Adorable, Can Be Deadly

Due to a quirk in their anatomy, injured hedgehogs can experience skin inflating to the size of a basketball, which can be a painful and life-threatening development.

By Laurie L. Dove Aug 11, 2017 Mammals / Other Mammals