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The Open University

Studying mammals: A winning design

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

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The term mammal encompasses a huge variety of animals, including humans. But what makes a mammal a mammal? This free course, Studying mammals: A winning design, explores some of the features, such as reproduction, lactation and thermoregulation methods, that mammals have in common. It is the first in a series of ten Studying mammals courses.NOTE: The Studying mammals series is gradually being updated and replaced. You can study an improved freestanding version of this course, titled Introducing mammals, here:https://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/introducing-mammals/content-section-0

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Overview
  • 1 Overview
  • 2 How should we think of monotremes?
  • 2 How should we think of monotremes?
  • 3 Reproduction in marsupials
  • 3 Reproduction in marsupials
  • 4 Milk production (lactation)
  • 4 Milk production (lactation)
  • 5 Metabolism and body temperature
  • 5 Metabolism and body temperature
  • 5.1 Warm-blooded vs cold-blooded
  • 5.2 Metabolism
  • 5.3 Heat production
  • 5.4 Coping with heat
  • 6 Thermoregulation and mammalian fur
  • 6 Thermoregulation and mammalian fur
  • 7 What's special about placental mammals?
  • 7 What's special about placental mammals?
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

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