Reproductive Habits

Mating & Courtship

-Every single born mammal started from one common occurrence. Mating.
-All mammals have to mate with one another to create their offspring.
-Usually, courtship happens between the male and female. It is different from all mammals what the courtship is. Rather it be doing a courtship dance, to asking someone out. It all varies from one
mammal to another.

Reproducing

What is reproduction in mammals?
     - It is the process where sperm and egg cells are produced, brought together, joined an developed into a new individual.

There are 3 different types of mammals. Placental mammals, Marsupials and Monotremes.

• The difference between  placental mammals and other mammals is that placental mammals fertilization occurs internally.

                      -Internal fertilization is uniting the sperm and egg internally in the female body.

• In other vertebrates, the developing embryo is separated from its mothers body by the amniotic membrane which surrounds the egg. The reason for this is, after fertilization, the embryo takes on its own existence as a separate organism. This is because the mothers auto-immune system will recognize new embryo as a foreign object and attack it. 

External Fertilization- Characterized by the release of the sperm and egg into an external environment; sperm will fertilize the egg outside of the organism as seen in spawning.

Internal Fertilization- Characterized by sperm fertilizing the egg within the female; the three methods include: oviparity (egg laid outside female body), ovoviparity (egg help within female), and viviparity (development within female followed by live birth.

- Internal Fertilization  protects the fertilized egg or embryo from predation and harsh environments, which results in higher survival rates than external fertilization.

3 types of mammal reproduction:

• Placental Reproduction (Most common mammal reproduction)
• Morotreme Types (Very rare for mammals)
• Mammal Reproduction (Happens with marsupials)

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Difference-

MOST mammals are placental mammals, except for marsupials and monotremes.

 

 -Marsupials VS Placental Mammals

• The main difference between placental mammals and marsupials is that when marsupials are born, they are always born undeveloped, about the size of a jelly bean. After they are born, they make their way into their mothers pouch and stay there for months. Placental animals are much more developed when they are born, due to the longer gestation period in the placenta.

Alike?

• Some authorities DO technically consider marsupials placental mammals since they do have a placenta, but these animals have a less-developed, less-efficient type of placenta that limits the gestation period. The animals who are considered placental animals have placenta that allows for a longer development period within the protection of the womb.

-Monotremes VS Placental Mammals

Difference?

• The difference between monotremes and placental mammals is that monotremes lay eggs.
• Though, they do lay eggs, but the egg does stay inside of the mother to receive nutrients.

Alike?

• Both the monotremes and placental mammals are both warm blooded, nourish their young with milk from the mammary gland and have hair on their bodies.

FUN FACT OF THE POST: The only known living monotremes live in only Australia & New Guinea.


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To learn more about the topics on this post, go to this website!
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/498588/reproductive-behaviour/48579/Mammals