Key Difference – Aves vs Mammals
Aves (birds) and Mammals are two vertebrate groups. The key difference between them is that the Aves do not have mammary glands while Mammals have mammary glands.
Kingdom Animalia is comprised of animals that are multicellular (metazoa) and unicellular (protozoa). Multicellular animals are two groups; vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates are grouped into several groups and Aves (birds) and Mammals are two of them that share similarities as well as have differences.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Aves
3. What are Mammals
4. Similarities Between Aves and Mammals
5. Side by Side Comparison – Aves vs Mammals in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What are Aves?
Aves or birds are vertebrates that are able to fly. They possess feathers. Aves bones are hollow and light. Forelimbs of the aves are modified to flight.
Figure 01: Birds
Aves are warm blooded animals and they have four-chambered heart. Their red blood cells are elliptical and nucleated. Aves lay eggs and feed their young bird with partially digested foods.
What are Mammals?
Mammals are a group of vertebrates of kingdom Animalia. Mammals are differentiated from other animals by having their own mammary glands. Mammals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms. Mammals give birth to their young ones and feed them by milk produced by their mammary glands. Mammals are warm blooded animals and possess closed circulatory system that is composed of four-chambered heart.
Figure 02: Mammals
Mammals have four limbs. Bones of mammals are dense and filled with bone marrow. The body of the mammal is covered by a skin with hair. Mammals include elephants, human, tiger, lion, whales, primates etc.
What are the Similarities Between Aves and Mammals?
- Both Aves and Mammalia belong to the kingdom Animalia.
- Both are vertebrates.
- Both are eukaryotic and multicellular organisms.
- Both have a larynx.
- Both are amniotes (higher vertebrates).
- Both Aves and Mammals have four-chambered heart.
- Both are warm-blooded animals.
What is the Difference Between Aves and Mammals?
Aves vs Mammals |
|
| Aves are a group of vertebrates that can fly. | Mammals are a group of vertebrates that possess mammary glands. |
| Body | |
| Aves body is covered with feathers. | Mammal body is covered by skin with hairs. |
| Reproduction | |
| Aves lay eggs. | Mammals give birth to their babies. |
| Ability to Fly | |
| Aves can fly. | Mammals cannot fly. |
| Feathers/Fur/Hair | |
| Aves have feathers. | Mammals have fur or hair. |
| Bones | |
| Aves have light, porous or hollow bones that are needed for flying. | Mammals have denser and solid bone system filled with bone marrow. |
| Wings | |
| Aves have wings. | Mammals have paws, hands, and hooves. |
| Heart | |
| Aves have a larger heart relative to their body size and mass compared to mammals. | Mammals have a smaller heart relative to their body size and mass |
| Forelimbs | |
| Aves forelimbs are modified to flight. | Mammals forelimbs are modified for climbing, walking and running. |
| Red Blood Cell Nucleus | |
| Red blood cells of Aves are nucleated. | RBC of mammals is not nucleated. |
| Shape of the Red Blood Cells | |
| Red blood cells of Aves are elliptical in shape. | Mammals’ red blood cells are round in shape. |
| Respiratory Cycle | |
| Aves have duel respiratory cycles. | Mammals have only a single respiratory cycle. |
| Feeding the Young | |
| Aves feed their young birds by regurgitating partially digested food. | Mammals provide milk produced by mammary glands to babies. |
Summary – Aves vs Mammals
Aves and Mammals are two vertebrate groups. Aves included animals that can fly. Mammals include animals that possess mammary glands. Aves possess light and hollow bones while mammals have solid and dense bones. Aves have feathers while mammals have hair. This is the difference between aves and mammals.
Reference:
1.“Bird.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Apr. 2018. Available here
2.Ritchison, Gary. Avian Circulatory System. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.’Red-crested Turaco RWD’By DickDaniels – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’1611509′ (Public Domain) via Max Pixel