Mammals (class: MAMMALIA) are characterized from other vertebrate classes by a body which is generally covered by hair and exhibiting external ears. The two pairs of limbs generally project downwards from the body surface. The young are suckled by mammary glands until they are able to find food for themselves. Maltese mammals belong to the subclass EUTHERIA.
1a. - Posterior limbs absent or rudimentary. Caudal end of body transformed
into a horizontal fin. Aquatic.........................CETACEA
1b. - Posterior limbs present and used for progression. Caudal end
of body not transformed in a fin. Terrestrial or partially aquatic................2
2a. - Anterior limbs join with the posterior by a membrane which
enables flight....CHIROPTERA
2b . - Anterior and posterior limbs are free and independent, used
for progression on land, and more or less transformed for aquatic purposes...........3
3a. - End of digit provided with a claw. Head never provided with
horns...............4
3b. - End of digit provided with a hoof. Head sometimes provided
with horns...............UNGULATA
4a. - Incomplete dentition. Canine absent. Greatly developed incisors,
visible from outside and separated from the remaining teeth by a diastema...........5
4b. - Complete dentition. Canine present, well developed or otherwise.
Incisors not visible from outside........................6
5a. - Two pairs of superior incisors...........LAGOMORPHA
5b. - One pair of superior incisors............RODENTIA
6a. - Teeth not very dissimilar with regards to form and size. Canines
do not surpass considerably the level of the other teeth (except in Talpa);
medial incisors are more developed than the rest. Muzzle pointed like a
tube. Small size..........INSECTIVORA
6b. - teeth different in form and size. Canines very developed,
surpassing considerably the level of the other teeth. Muzzel more or less
elongated, but rounded at its end. Medium or large size......................................CARNIVORA
