Mammalia is a class of animals within the phylum Chordata. Mammals are characterized by several unique features, including the presence of mammary glands, hair or fur, and a neocortex region in the brain.
Mammals are further classified into several subclasses, orders, families, genera, and species. Some common mammalian orders include Primates, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Cetacea.
There are over 5,400 species of mammals, including well-known animals like humans, elephants, dolphins, dogs, cats, and many more.
Mammals are thought to have evolved from synapsid reptiles during the late Triassic period, around 200 million years ago. Over time, mammals diversified and adapted to various ecological niches.