Altricial. Young usually born naked, blind, and unable to care for themselves at birth (see precocial).
Alveolus. Socket in jaw that holds a tooth.
Angular process. Lower projection on posterior, ventral end of mandible; below articular process.
Annulation. Growth ring in cementum of some teeth used for aging; also, scaly ring on tail.
Antlers. Bony growths from frontal bones of skull. They are shed annually and renewed shortly thereafter. Antorbital process. Anterior growth of supraorbital process in rabbits.
Apposable. Ability to touch the thumb to the tips of each finger on the same hand.
Articular process. Extension on vertebra connecting with the preceding or subsequent vertebra; also, projection on posterior end of mandible that hinges with skull. Aspection. The seasonal aspect of an environment, and its regular pattern of change through the year.
Auditory bulla. Bony capsule enclosing the middle and inner ear (see tympanic bulla).
Axial skeleton. The skull, vertebrae, sternum and ribs.
Baculum. Penis bone (os penis) found in some mammals, and sometimes useful in identification.
Basioccipital. First ventral skull bone (single) anterior to foramen magnum.
Basilar length. Skull measurement from the lower lip of the foramen magnum to the posterior border of alveolus of the first incisor.
Basisphenoid. Single ventral skull bone immediately anterior to basioccipital.
Bifid. Divided into two approximately equal units; with regards teeth, two lobes on the crown.
Biome. A major biotic community characterized by certain types of dominant plants and animals; for example, eastern deciduous forest biome.
Blastocyst. A ball of cells formed by repeated divisions of the fertilized egg in the early embryonic development of mammals.
Brachyodont. Low-crowned teeth that cease to grow when fully erupted.
Braincase. Part of skull that covers the brain.
Buccal. Parts of tooth nearest the cheek; see also lingual.
Calcaneum. The "heel bone" of mammals.
Calcar. The cartilaginous spur connected to the calcaneum in bats, which helps to support the uropatagium.
Canine. Tooth on each side of jaw posterior to incisors.
Carnassial. The last upper premolar and lower first molar teeth of carnivores, used for cutting flesh.
Cementum. A spongy bone-like material. In most teeth it covers dentin in region of roots, and anchors tooth in socket.
Cheek pouch. An infolding of the skin of the cheek to form a pouch; may be external and fur-lined as in pocket gophers and pocket mice, or internal and not lined with fur, as in certain squirrels.
Cheek teeth. Premolar and molar teeth.
Cingulum. Ridge around the base of a tooth crown.
Climax. A biotic community that has reached an equilibrium with its environment, and whose constituent species are capable of maintaining themselves within the community (see also seral).
Community. Any association of living organisms living in the same area and linked by biotic interactions.
Condylobasal length. Measurement of a skull from the posterior surface of the occipital condyles to the anterior end of the premaxillary bone.
Coronoid height. Height of mandible from upper edge of coronoid process to lower edge of mandible.
Coronoid process. The uppermost projection at the posterior end of the lower jaw; above the articular process.
Cranial breadth. The widest part of the cranium.
Cranium. The bones enclosing the brain and sense organs of the head; see braincase.
Crepuscular. Active in dim light before sunrise an after sunset.
Crown (tooth). The part of the tooth farthest from the root, at least part of which comes into contact with a tooth in the opposite jaw (see occlusal surface).
Cursorial. Specialized for running.
Cusp. Projection on the crown of mammalian tooth.
Deciduous. Shed or lost during development, as in antlers or milk teeth.
Delayed implantation. Inhibition of embryo (blastocyst stage) from implantation in uterine wall.
Dental formula. Letters and numbers indicating the kind and numbers of teeth in mammals.
Dentary. Bone that forms mandible in mammals.
Dentine. Hard material forming the major portion of a tooth; in most teeth surrounds the pulp cavity and contacts the enamel on the crown of tooth and the cementum at base of roots; sometimes exposed on surface of crown.
Dew claw. Vestigial digit on the foot, especially of ungulates.
Diastema. Space between teeth, usually between incisor and first cheek tooth.
Dichotomous. Dividing into branches of equal size.
Digit. Finger or toe.
Digitigrade. Mammals which walk on their toes with the heel and wrist bones elevated above the ground surface.
Dominant (animal or plant). A species found in a community that because of abundance, size, and/or importance of its interactions helps to define the characteristics of that community.
Ear from notch measurement. Distance from notch at base of ear to uppermost edge of fleshy par of ear.
Ear ossicles. Three bones in the air-filled middle ear that transmit vibrations to the inner ear.
Ecosystem. The biotic community, together with those features of its abiotic environment that interact with the community and sustain the life processes of its member species.
Ecotone. A transition zone between two distinct communities, such as a forest-grassland ecotone.
Edaphic. Pertaining to soil.
Enamel. Hardest part of tooth; calcium salts in form of apatite crystals; most frequently crown of tooth.
Epiphyses. Terminal secondary centers of ossification.
Estivation (also aestivation). Inactivity during hot periods of summer or drought.
Estrous (also oestrus). Period when female is receptive to mating (copulation).
Exoccipital bone. One of a pair of bones on the sides of the foramen magnum bearing occipital condyles.
External auditory meatus. Canal leading to the tympanic membrane of the ear.
Femur. Thigh bone, between knee and pelvic girdle.
Fenestrated. Window-like perforations in a structure.
Fibula. Smaller of two bones between the knee and ankle of the hind leg.
Foramen magnum. Large posterior opening of skull where spinal cord leaves the brain.
Foramina. Openings or holes in bone for the passage of nerves and blood vessels (singular-foramen).
Fossa. A pit or depression on the surface of bone.
Fossorial. Digging or burrowing habits.
Frontal bone. Large bone covering anterior surface of brain.
Frontal sinus. Vacuities in the frontal bone opening into the nasal cavity.
Gestation. The period of embryonic development in a mammal from fertilization to birth (parturition), during most of which the embryo is in the uterus.
Glenoid fossa. Cup-shaped cavity on side of pectoral girdle that receives the head of the humerus forming a shoulder joint.
Greatest length of skull measurement. Length from anteriormost point on incisors, premaxillary bone, or nasal bone to posterior-most point on braincase.
Guard hairs. Outer protective hairs in pelage in mammals.
Hibernation. Period of inactivity or dormancy in mammals during winter when body temperature and metabolism decrease.
Hind foot measurement. Length from end of claw to heel.
Home range. The area in which an individual mammal spends most or all of its time, and in which all activities can be conducted; need not be defended, and may thus overlap with the home range of an adjacent individual.
Horn. Permanent (non-deciduous) structure of keratin growing over bony core.
Humerus. Bone of upper forelimb, between elbow and shoulder.
Hyoid. Cartilage or bones supporting the base of the tongue. Hypsodont. Teeth with high crowns and short roots.
Incisive foramen. One of the paired foramina in the anterior part of bony palate.
Influent (animal or plant). A species found in a community that may not be particularly abundant or large, but whose interactions with other species are essential in maintaining the character of the community.
Infraorbital canal. Opening through the maxillary bone from orbit to face, varying in size especially in rodents, according to the specialization of the masseter, a jaw muscle.
Inguinal. Region of the groin.
Interorbital. Region of skull between bony sockets of eyes.
Interorbital breadth. Least width between the orbits.
Interparietal. Single bone in posterior roof of skull, surrounded by two parietal and one supraoccipital bones.
Jugal. Bone in the zygomatic arch between the maxillary and squamosal bones.
Keratin. A horny, acellular, protein substance produced by skin cells, and which composes nails, claws, hooves, and horns.
Lambdoidal crest. Ridge where the occipital bone joins the parietal and squamosal bones.
Lacrimal. Small bone at inner corner of orbit whose ducts drain tear glands.
Lingual. Pertaining to or next to the tongue; parts of tooth nearest the tongue (see buccal).
Lophodont. Dentition in which cusps fuse to form transverse ridges.
Mamma. Mammary gland producing milk, characteristic of all mammals (plural-mammae).
Mandible. Lower jaw bone of mammals.
Marsupium. An external pouch formed by a fold of skin on the abdomen which encloses the mammae in many marsupials such as the opossum; serves to protect the poorly developed young during early postnatal growth.
Masseter. Muscle of the mandible in certain vertebrates.
Mastoid. A bone surrounded by the squamosal, exoccipital, and tympanic bones.
Mastoid breadth. Greatest distance across mastoid bones.
Mastoid process. Projection extending from the mastoid bone.
Maxillary bone (maxilla). Part of upper jaw that supports the canines, premolars, and molars.
Maxillary tooth row length. Length of teeth in maxilla (upper jaw) parallel to axis of skull, from canine to last molar.
Milk teeth. Deciduous teeth (incisors, canines, premolars) in juvenile mammals which are replaced by permanent teeth.
Molar. The most posterior set of teeth, often specialized for grinding and crushing.
Molariform. Teeth that have the appearance of molar teeth, such as modified premolars, as well as molars proper.
Molt. Process of periodic replacing of old worn hair with new hair.
Musk gland. Specialized scent-producing glands used for defense or recognition.
Muzzle. The projecting jaws and nose of the mammalian facial region.
Nail. Flattened, modified claw.
Nares. Opening to the nasal cavity.
Nasal. Bone on dorsal surface of rostrum bordered laterally by premaxillary and maxillary.
Natal. Pertaining to birth.
Neonate. New born young.
Occipital bone. Bone surrounding foramen magnum, and bearing occipital condyles.
Occipital condyles. Articulating surfaces of both side of foramen magnum that support skull on vertebral column.
Occlusal surface. Contact surfaces of upper and lower teeth.
Omnivorous. Feeding on all sorts of plant and animal material.
Orbit. Bony socket of the eye.
Orbitosphenoid. Small bone forming a part of the lower median wall of the orbit.
Os penis. The baculum, or penis bone.
Palate. The bony roof of the mouth comprised of the premaxillary, maxillary and palatine bones.
Palatal length. Length from posterior border of palatine bones to the anterior end of the premaxillary bones.
Palatine foramen. Opening through the bony roof of the mouth.
Parietal. Paired bones of the braincase behind the frontal bone and anterior to the occipital bone.
Paraoccipital process. Projection on occipital bone.
Parturition. Process of giving birth to young.
Pectoral girdle. Bones to which forelimbs are attached.
Pelage. The hair of mammals.
Pelvic girdle. Bones to which the hind limbs are attached.
Phalanx. One of the bones in the fingers or toes (plural-phalanges).
Placental scar. A pigmented area produced on the uterine wall from a previous attachment of the placenta.
Plantar. Sole of the foot.
Plantar tubercules. Protuberances on the sole of the foot.
Plantigrade. Walking on the soles of the feet with heel touching the ground.
Postauricular. Behind the ear.
Postorbital process. Projection of the frontal bone on upper posterior orbital margin.
Postpartum. Pertains to events that follow after parturition, such as postpartum estrus.
Precocial. Young born with hair, eyes open, and able to move about immediately after birth (see altricial).
Prehensile. Capable of grasping, as in a prehensile tail.
Presphenoid. A single bone in front of the basisphenoid.
Premaxillary bone (premaxilla). Bone that supports the upper incisors.
Premolars. Cheek teeth in front of molars; may be variously modified.
Pterygoid. Paired bones behind the palatine bones forming basal portion of skull.
Pubic symphysis. Midventral joint between the two halves of the pelvic girdle.
Radius. The medial of two bones in the lower forelimb.
Retractile. The ability of certain mammals to raises their claws above a flat surface (i.e., cats).
Riparian. Adjacent to water, especially streams or rivers, as in riparian (bottomland) forest.
Rostrum. The portion of the skull in front of the orbits.
Rudimentary. Imperfectly developed and incapable of normal function, small.
Sagittal crest. Longitudinal ridge of bone along top of skull, including parietal and frontal bones.
Saltatorial. Adapted for leaping.
Scansorial. Specialized for climbing with sharp, curved laws.
Scent marking. The behavior of depositing odors on objects in the environment.
Scrotum. Pouch of skin in the pelvic region of males containing testicles.
Septum. Bony partition.
Seral. A biotic community that has not yet reached an equilibrium with its environment, and whose constituent species may be succeeded by others, a process called ecological succession (see also climax).
Squamosal. Bone on the posterior side of skull below the parietals, supporting the base of the zygomatic arch.
Supraoccipital. Bone above the foramen magnum.
Supraorbital process. Process of the frontal bone above the orbit, prominent in rabbits.
Suture. Interlocking edges of bones forming an immovable joint.
Temporal ridge. Raised edge on parietal bone for attachment of temporal muscle.
Territory. Specific area established and defended from intrusion by another member of the same species; usually established for breeding or feeding purposes.
Tibia. Larger of two bones between knee and ankle in hind limbs; the shin bone.
Tine. Prong of an antler.
Total length. Length from tip of nose to end of fleshy part of tail when mammal is laid on its back on a flat surface.
Tragus. A small flap in front of the external opening of the ear in bats.
Trifid. Divided into three approximately equal units; with regards teeth, three lobes on crown.
Tympanic bulla. Bony capsule enclosing the middle and inner ear (see auditory bullae).
Underfur. Fine, dense inner coat of hair.
Ungulate. Collective term applied to hoofed mammals (orders Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla).
Ulna. Outermost of two bones in forearm.
Unicuspids. Conical teeth in a shrew between the large anterior incisor and premolars (includes posterior incisors, canine, and anterior premolars).
Uropatagium. Skin between the hind legs and tail of bats; interfemoral membrane.
Vibrissae. Long tactile whiskers on side of muzzle behind nasal opening.
Weaning. The process by which nourishment of the developing juvenile mammal is shifted from maternal milk to foods of the sort eaten by the adult.
Zygoma, zygomatic arch. A slender bridge of one extending along the side of the skull.
Zygomatic breadth. Greatest distance across zygomatic arches.
Zygomatic plate. The base of the zygomatic arm of the maxilla.
Return to the Mammals of Kansas Key to Species.