Mammals at the Natural History Museum

November 6, 2008 6:45 AM

Mammals | Natural History Museum.From fascinating bats to enormous whales, mammals are the most diverse group of animals on our planet. Equipped with wings, fins, horns and spines – they have evolved to fill many niches and roles. Discover more about this complex group, which of course, includes us.

Join the producer of David Attenborough's landmark BBC series The Life of Mammals to get a glimpse behind the scenes and learn how the programs were made.

posted by netbros (15 comments total)

Their names are called, they raise a paw
The bat, the cat, dolphin and dog, koala bear and hog...
posted by Shepherd at 6:50 AM on November 6, 2008

And yet Sarah Palin appears to have all these attributes...
posted by gman at 7:04 AM on November 6, 2008

Dang - Shepherd took my post away of TMBG lyrics.
posted by fijiwriter at 7:37 AM on November 6, 2008

Men can breastfeed, it is true.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:39 AM on November 6, 2008

whoops - nsfw video on the page I linked to above - contains raw footage of dirty, filthy, shameful boobies.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:45 AM on November 6, 2008

Interesting, I'll have to check into these "mammals" when I have more time.
posted by DU at 7:51 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

I loved the Natural History Museum when I visited it as a child in the 70s. It was big and open and grand and Victorian and you could just wander about aimlessly browsing through glass case after glass case of weird and wonderful fauna.

When I went back last year it was unrecognisable - just another tourist attraction where you queue to be growled at by an animatronic T-Rex, then take a pre-planned 'journey' through a load of rather dull educational multimedia. I doubt I'll take my kids there.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 7:55 AM on November 6, 2008

(holds up huge banner reading MAMMALS FOR AMERICA! Then is engulfed by bees.)
posted by The Whelk at 8:29 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

netbros: this complex group, which of course, includes us.

Speak for yourself. I'm going back to the ocean.
posted by not_on_display at 8:35 AM on November 6, 2008

Best Of The Food Web?
posted by Kabanos at 8:42 AM on November 6, 2008

Equipped with wings, fins, horns and spines – they have evolved to fill many niches and roles.

You forgot teeth! Teeth aren't unique to mammals, but the teeth of other types of animals are basically little pointy spines that are nowhere near as complex and useful as any given mammal's teeth. All mammals share the same basic kinds of teeth (incisors, canines, molars, etc.) but each mammal species has evolved specialized teeth to match their specific eating habits.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:33 AM on November 6, 2008

...each mammal species has evolved specialized teeth to match their specific eating habits.

Wasn't this true of dinosaurs as well? For that matter, consider snakes vs chameleons.
posted by DU at 9:52 AM on November 6, 2008

JBS Haldane famously answered a pious interviewer unaware of speaking to the godless communist sort of eminent evolutionary biologist who innocently asked what his researches had shown him about the deity "an inordinate fondness for beetles", and we could say something quite similar about mammals, since almost 40% of all mammal species are rodents.
posted by jamjam at 11:39 AM on November 6, 2008

Maintaining the very high metabolism rate they have...
posted by salvia at 11:44 PM on November 6, 2008

Oh, ha, I'm third to that one.
posted by salvia at 11:45 PM on November 6, 2008