A mammal is an animal that feeds its young ones on its own milk. Human beings, cows, mice, and dolphins are all examples of mammals.

• The biggest mammal is the blue whale which can grow up to 33m long and weigh up to 190 tones.
• The biggest land mammal is the African bush elephant which can grow up to 4 m tall and weigh up to 12 tones.
• The tallest mammal is the giraffe which can grow up to the height of 6 m.
• The smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat of Thailand which weighs under 2g.
• The smallest land mammal is the Etruscan shrew whose length is less than 50 mm.
• The fastest land mammal is the cheetah which can run as the speed of 100 km/ h.
• The fastest running land mammal over a sustained distance is the North America pronghorn antelope, which can run at the speed of 56 km/ h for over 6 km.
• The fastest swimming mammal is the killer whale which can swim at the speed of 55 km / h.
• The highest jumping mammals are pumas and leopards which can jump to the height of 5m.
• The mammal with the longest life span (apart from humans) is the elephant which can live over 70 years.

Clouded leopard

Smallest among big cats, it is more or less an arboreal animal, inhabiting thick canopy of tropical forests of north eastern India.

Red panda

Red panda is one of the most beautiful animals which its bright chestnut and white coat. It is an arboreal animal of North eastern region. Pandas feed on tender bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, eggs, and insects and occasionally on small animals.

Smooth otter

Highly adapted aquatic mammal inhabits fresh water bodies. Its highly muscular body with flattened tail and webbed feet make it completely at home in water. Smooth otter like all otters are very playful animals.

Slow Loris

Slow Loris, although cat like in appearance is, in fact, related to primates. It is nocturnal in habit and its large eyes provide a better vision in the night. It feeds mainly on insects and fruits. Highly adapted toes for arboreal way of life make it clumsy on the ground. It is very shy by nature.

• Written by madugundu krishna.
• In category General Reference.
• 15 years ago.

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