Mammals are one of the 6 main classes of animals. Animal classes are groups of animals that scientists consider to be alike in some important ways.
Mammals are the animal class that people belong to.
There are only about 4,000 kinds of mammals. This sounds like a lot, but when you consider there are 21,000 kinds of fish and a whopping 800,000 kinds of
insects you'll realize mammals are a pretty small class!
Mammals are animals that have hair, are warm-blooded, and nourish their young with milk. Some modern-day mammals include people, apes, cats, bats, dogs, tigers,
mice, moose, aardvarks, beavers, elephants, gorillas, sloths, pandas, hamsters, horses, whales, and dolphins.
Mammals are a clade of endothermic amniotes distinguished from the reptiles and the birds by the possession of hair, three middle ear bones, mammary glands in
females, and a neocortex a region of the brain). The mammalian brain regulates body temperature and the circulatory system, including the four-chambered heart. The
mammals include the largest animals on the planet, the rorquals and some other whales, as well as some of the most intelligent, such as elephants, some primates and
some cetaceans. The basic body type is a four-legged land-borne animal, but some mammals are adapted for life at sea, in the air, in the trees, or on two legs. The
largest group of mammals, the placentals, have a placenta which feeds the offspring during pregnancy. Mammals range in size from the 1.2-1.6 inch bumblebee bat to
108 ft blue whale.
Official mammals listed by state,
including animals, bats, cats, dogs, horses, etc
|
State Symbols
|
Mammal
- Designations - Species -Adopted
|
| Alabama |
Racking Horse
(E. f. caballus)
Alabama State Horse - 1975 |
| Alabama |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
Alabama State Mammal - Apr 12, 2006 |
| Alabama |
West Indian Manatee
(Trichechus manatus)
Alabama State Marine Mammal - 2009 |
| Alaska |
Alaskan Malamute
(Canis lupus familiaris)
Alaska State Dog - May 12,
2010 |
| Alaska |
Moose
(Alces alces)
Alaska State Land Mammal - 1998 |
| Alaska |
Bowhead Whale
(Balaena mysticetus)
Alaska State Marine Mammal - 1983 |
| Arizona |
Ringtail
(Bassariscus astutus)
Arizona State Mammal - 1986 |
| Arkansas |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Arkansas State Mammal - 1993 |
| California |
California Grizzly Bear
(Ursus californicus)
California State Animal - 1953 |
| California |
California Gray Whale
(Eschrichtius robustus)
California State Marine Mammal - 1975 |
| Colorado |
Rocky Mountain
(Ovis canadensis)
Bighorn Sheep
Colorado State Animal - May 1, 1961 |
| Colorado |
Dogs and cats adopted from Colorado animal shelters and rescues
(Canis lupus familiaris
Felis catus)
Colorado State Pets - May 13, 2013 |
| Connecticut |
Sperm Whale
(Physeter Macrosephalus)
Connecticut State Animal - 1975 |
| Delaware |
Horseshoe Crab
(Limulus polyphemus)
Delaware State Marine Animal - Jun 25,
2002 |
| Delaware |
Grey Fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Delaware State Wildlife Animal - Jun 10, 2010 |
| Florida |
Florida Panther
(Felis concolor coryi)
Florida State Animal - 1982 |
| Florida |
Manatee
(Trichechus manatus)
Florida State Marine Mammal - 1975 |
| Florida |
Porpoise
(Tursiops truncates)
Florida State Saltwater Mammal - 1975 |
| Florida |
Florida Cracker Horse Marshtackie
(E. f. caballus)
Florida State Horse - 2008 |
| Georgia |
Right Whale
(Eubabalena glacialis)
Georgia State Marine Mammal - 1985 |
| Hawaii |
Hawaiian monk seal
(Monachus schauinslandi)
Hawaii State Mammal - 2008 |
| Hawaii |
Humpback Whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)
Hawaii State Marine Mammal - 1979 |
| Hawaii |
Ope'ape'a or Hawaiian hoary bat
(Lasiurus cinereus semotus) -
Hawaii Land Mammal - 2015 |
| Idaho |
Appaloosa
(E. f. caballus)
Idaho State Horse - Mar 25,
1975 |
| Illinois |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Illinois State Animal - 1982 |
| Indiana |
NA |
| Iowa |
NA |
| Kansas |
American Buffalo
(Bison bison)
Kansas State Animal - Mar 28,
1955 |
| Kentucky |
Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Kentucky State Wild Game Animal - 1968 |
| Kentucky |
Thoroughbred
(E. f. caballus)
Kentucky State Horse - Jul 15,
1996 |
| Louisiana |
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog
(C. l. familiaris)
Louisiana State Dog - Jul 9,
1979 |
| Louisiana |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
Louisiana State Mammal - 1992 |
| Maine |
Moose
(Alces alces)
Maine State Animal - 1979 |
| Maine |
Maine Coon Cat
(Felis catus)
Maine State Cat - 1985 |
| Maryland |
Calico Cat
(Felis catus)
Maryland State Cat - Oct 1,
2001 |
| Maryland |
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
(C. l. familiaris)
Maryland State Dog - 1964 |
| Maryland |
Thoroughbred Horse
(E. f. caballus)
Maryland State Horse - Oct 1,
2003 |
| Massachusetts |
Right Whale
(Eubabalena glacialis)
Massachusetts State Marine Mammal - 1980 |
| Massachusetts |
Tabby Cat
(Felis catus)
Massachusetts State Cat - 1988 |
| Massachusetts |
Boston Terrier
(Canis familiaris bostenensis)
Massachusetts State Dog - 1979 |
| Massachusetts |
Morgan Horse
(Equus cabullus morganensis)
Massachusetts State Horse - 1970 |
| Michigan |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Michigan State Game Mammal - 1997 |
| Minnesota |
NA |
| Mississippi |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Mississippi State Land Mammal - Apr 12,
1974 |
| Mississippi |
Red Fox
(Vulpes vulpes)
Mississippi State Land Mammal - 1997 |
| Mississippi |
Bottlenose Dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus)
Mississippi State Water Mammal - April 12,
1974 |
| Missouri |
Missouri Mule
(Equus spp.)
Missouri State Animal - May 31,
1995 |
| Missouri |
Missouri Fox Trotting Horse
(E. f. caballus)
Missouri State Horse - June 4,
2002 |
| Missouri |
Paddlefish or Spoonbill
(Polyodon spathula)
Missouri State Aquatic Animal - May 23,
1997 |
| Montana |
Grizzly Bear
(Ursus arctos horribilis)
Montana State Animal - Apr 7, 1983 |
| Nebraska |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Nebraska State Mammal - Feb 26,
1981 |
| Nevada |
Desert Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Nevada State Animal - 1973 |
| New
Hampshire |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
New Hampshire State Animal - 1983 |
| New
Hampshire |
Chinook
(Canis lupus familiaris)
New Hampshire State Dog - 2009 |
| New Jersey |
Horse
(E. f. caballus)
New Jersey State Animal - Aug 14,
1977 |
| New Mexico |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
New Mexico State Animal - Feb 8,
1963 |
| New York |
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
New York State Animal - 1969 |
| North Carolina |
Plott Hound
(C. l. familiaris)
North Carolina State Dog - Aug 12,
1989 |
| North Carolina |
Grey Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
North Carolina State Mammal - 1969 |
| North Carolina |
Colonial Spanish Mustang
North Carolina State Horse - 2010 |
| North Carolina |
Virginia opossum
(Didelphis virginiana)
North Carolina State Marsupial - 2013 |
| North Dakota |
The Nokota Horse
(E. f. caballus)
North Dakota State Honorary Equine - 1993 |
| Ohio |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Ohio State Animal - 1988 |
| Oklahoma |
Bison
(Bison bison)
Oklahoma State Animal - 1972 |
| Oklahoma |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Oklahoma State Game Animal - Jan 30,
1990 |
| Oklahoma |
Raccoon
(Procyon Lotor)
Oklahoma State Furbearing Animal - Jan 30,
1990 |
| Oklahoma |
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
(Tadarida brasiliensis)
Oklahoma State Flying Mammal - Nov 1,
2006 |
| Oregon |
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
Oregon State Animal - 1969 |
| Pennsylvania |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Pennsylvania State Animal - Oct 2,
1959 |
| Pennsylvania |
Great Dane
(C. l. familiaris)
Pennsylvania State Dog - Aug 17,
1965 |
| Rhode Island |
NA |
| South Carolina |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
South Carolina State Animal - 1972 |
| South Carolina |
Boykin Spaniel
(C. l. familiaris)
South Carolina State Dog - Mar 26,
1985 |
| South Carolina |
Bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus)
South Carolina State Marine mammal - 2009 |
| South Carolina |
Northern Right whale
(Eubabalena glacialis)
South Carolina State Migratory Marine mammal - 2009 |
| South Carolina |
Marsh Tacky
(E. f. caballus)
State Heritage Horse - 2010 |
| South Carolina |
Mule
(Equus asinus x Equus caballus)
South Carolina State Heritage Work Animal - Jun 11, 2010 |
| South Dakota |
Coyote
(Canis latrans)
South Dakota State Animal - Mar 5,
1949 |
| Tennessee |
Raccoon
(Procynn lotor)
Tennessee State Wild Animal - 1972 |
| Tennessee |
Tennessee Walking Horse
(Equus caballus)
Tennessee State Horse - Jul 1,
2000 |
| Tennessee |
Dogs and cats that are adopted from Tennessee animal shelters and rescues
(Canis lupus familiaris;
Felis catus)
Tennessee State Pets)2014 |
| Texas |
9-Banded Armadillo
(Dasypus novemcinctus)
Texas State Small Mammal
- Jun 16,
1995 |
| Texas |
Longhorn
(Bos bos)
Texas State Large Mammal - May 17,
1969 |
| Texas |
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
(Tadarida brasiliensis)
Texas State Flying Mammal - May 25,
1995 |
| Texas |
Blue Lacey
(C. l. familiaris)
Texas State Dog - 2005 |
| Texas |
American quarter horse
(E. f. caballus)
Texas State Horse - 2009 |
| Utah |
Rocky Mountain elk
(Cervus canadensis)
Utah State Animal - Feb 1,
1971 |
| Vermont |
Morgan Horse
(Equs caballus)
Vermont State Animal - Mar 23,
1961 |
| Vermont |
Randall lineback
(Bos primigenius)
Vermont State Heritage breed of livestock - 2005 |
| Virginia |
Virginia Big-eared Bat
(Corynorhinos townsendii virginianus)
Virginia State Bat - Mar 22,2005 |
| Virginia |
American Foxhound
(C. l. familiaris)
Virginia State Dog - 1966 |
| Washington |
Orca
(Orcinus orca)
Washington State Marine Mammal - Jun 24,
2005 |
| Washington |
Olympic marmot
(Marmota olympus)
Washington State Endemic Mammal - 2009 |
| West Virginia |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
West Virginia State Animal - Mar 23, 1973 |
| Wisconsin |
Badger
(Taxidea taxus)
Wisconsin State Animal - Jun 20,
1957 |
| Wisconsin |
Dairy Cow
(Bos taurus)
Wisconsin State Domestic Animal - 1971 |
| Wisconsin |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Wisconsin State Wildlife Animal - 1957 |
| Wisconsin |
American Water Spaniel
(C. l. familiaris)
Wisconsin State Dog - 1985 |
| Wyoming |
Bison
(Bison bison)
Wyoming State Mammal - Feb 23,
1985 |
