Figure 14.18: This howler monkey shows adaptations for an arboreal existence. ( 9 )Significance of Mammals
Mammals are thought to be significant both in terms of how they benefit people and also
of their importance ecologically. Given what you know about mammals so far, how do you
think they may be important to people? Just examining our daily lives we see examples
of mammals (other than people!) serving our needs everywhere. We have pets that are
mammals, most commonly dogs and cats; if we live in rural areas or visit another country
we will probably see lots of examples of mammals used for transport (horses, donkeys, mules
and even camels), being raised for food (cows and goats), and used for work (dogs (Figure
14.19), horses, and elephants).
The special capabilities of some mammal species have been used in practical situations and
also to increase our knowledge. Can you think of how they have been used? For example, the
United State and Russian militaries have trained and employed oceanic dolphins to rescue
lost divers or to locate underwater mines. Mammals’ more highly developed brain has made
them ideal for use by scientists in studying such things as learning, as seen in maze studies
of mice and rats. The ability of young mammals to learn from the experience of their elders
has allowed a behavioral plasticity unknown in any other group of organisms and has been a
primary reason for the evolutionary success of mammals. See if you can come up with some
other examples.
Mammals have also played a significant role in different cultures’ folklore and religion. For
example, the grace and power of the cougar have been widely admired in the cultures of
the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Inca city of Cusco is reported to have been
designed in the shape of a cougar and the sky and thunder god of the Inca, Viracocha, has
been associated with the animal. In North America, mythological descriptions of the cougar
have appeared in stories of a number of Native American tribes.