British Wild Mammals – Some Common Species
Mammals are believed to have evolved from reptiles. They share some unique characteristics that make them superior in the animal kingdom. They are warm blooded and can survive in any landmass. They have four limbs with which they move. The female mammals reproduce by giving birth and feed the young with milk. They have a pair of lungs for respiration and a four chambered heart to aid an effective blood circulation. Mammals are distributed all over the world in different habitats. They live in forests, oceans, grasslands, desserts, wetlands and Polar Regions. Among the European countries, Britain has comparatively poor collection of mammals but those that exist are fascinating animals. The list of British wild mammals includes Rodents, primates, bats, shrews, mole, bats and ungulates. One of the common rodent species is Red Squirrel which spends its most time on trees. It measures 19 – 23 cm long from head to tail and weighs between 250 to 340 grams.
British Wild Mammals – Some Common Species
It has a long tail, curved claws and strong hind legs that enable the animal to jump from tree to tree. They are also capable of swimming. The female squirrel can give birth to six babies and nurse them till they are dispersed. The mountain hare survives in mountainous and polar habitats. They grow to a mass of two to four kilograms and measures 46 to 65 centimeters. They feed on grasses mostly. The color and adaptations of Mountain hare varies in different regions. The European hedgehog is distributed over the farmlands and suburban areas. They sleep during winter and keep their body warm. They feed on earthworms, slugs, insects and beetles. A lot more wild mammals such as Fallow Deer, Badger, Scottish wildcat, Fox, Mink, Pine Marten, Weasel, Wood mouse, Water Vole, Otter, Grey Seal, mole and bat can be found in Britain.
