Incredibly detailed notes about mammals, with specific focus on common mammals in Ontario. Includes habitat, classification, animal size, range, appearance, food sources, reproduction, similar species, latin names, and interesting facts.
What is Natural Habitat?
A natural habitat is an ecological or environmental area where a specific species lives.
A species comes to rely on its specific natural habitat for resources such as food, a place to mate and
raise their young
Examples of natural habitat areas include forests and wetlands.
Natural habitats for animals change over time- largely due to the influence of humans.
Some species are able to adapt to habitat and habitat change.
Why is Understanding Natural Habitat and
Behaviour Important?
Knowing how an animal behaves in its natural habitat
gives us information to properly care for animals
when necessary.
Realizing the value of elements of natural habitat can
help protect essential things that animals need in the
wild (i.e. corridors)
When an animal is in care, as animal care workers we
must strive to mimic natural habitats and behaviours
for that animal.
Understanding how animals live gives us an appreciation for them that we may not otherwise have.
Mammals
Among mammals there are three variations in systems and mammals are divided based upon these
variations.
Subclasses of Mammals
Prototheria: lay eggs like most non-mammalian vertebrates, feed their newborn with mammary gland
secretions like all other mammals; only three surviving rare species groups of Prototheria- the Australian
platypus and 2 echidna (spiny anteater) species of Australia and New Guinea.
Theria: give birth to live young
Metatheria: young are born very immature and cannot live without further development in the
mother's pouch; commonly referred to as Marsupials; include kangaroos, koalas, opossums.
Eutheria: also known as “placental” mammals; young are born at a relatively advanced stage
after maturing in mother’s uterus; nearly 94% of all mammal species are placental mammals.
Orders of Mammals
There are 19 Orders of the Mammal class; 10 of these Orders can be found in North America.
Didelphimorphia (American Opossums)
, Common Mammals
Cingulata (Armadillos)
Sirenia (Manatees)
Rodentia (Rodents)
Lagomorpha (Hares, Rabbits, and Pika)
Soricimorpha (Shrews and Moles)
Chiroptera (Bats)
Carnivora (Carnivores)
Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)
Cetacea (Whales, Dolphins, And Porpoises)
Common Mammals
There are native wild mammal species in Ontario.
13 of Ontario’s wild mammals are listed as “Species at Risk”
American Badger
Beluga
Eastern Mole
Eastern small-footed Myotis (Myotis=bats)
Eastern Wolf
Grey Fox
Little Brown Myotis
Mountain Lion (Cougar)
Northern Myotis
Polar Bear
Wolverine
Woodland Caribou
Woodland Vole
Seasonality
Spring: Rising temperatures, more abundant food- reproductive season for many mammals;
vulnerable young.
Summer: Preparing for winter- building fat stores, stockpiling food.
Autumn: Mating season for some mammals, finding suitable den sites for Winter
Winter: Negative energy budget for herbivores, better potential hunting for some carnivores, migration
for some bats, dormancy for some mammals
The main impact of seasonality for mammals in Ontario is their visibility and activity levels.
In each area of the province you will see different species at different times of year.
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
Total length: 1.4-1.8 metres Weight: 40-270 kgs
Range: most of Canada and pockets of the United States; in forests, swamps and thickets; avoids
grasslands
Appearance: long shaggy coat; black to honey brown in colour; short and stout with powerful
legs; wide feet with claws; short rounded ears; males about 20% larger than females
Food sources: omnivore; up to 95% of diet is vegetation including berries, roots, leaves; also
feeds on small animals and insects; will eat carrion and human garbage if accessible
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