What key features characterize the Class Mammalia to which the West Highland White Terrier belongs?
Answer
They are warm-blooded (endothermic), possess hair or fur, and nurse their young with milk.
The Class Mammalia is defined by a suite of distinct biological characteristics that ensure the survival and development of their offspring. Key among these features are endothermy, allowing for stable internal body temperatures regardless of external conditions, the presence of hair or fur for insulation, and the unique ability of females to produce milk via specialized mammary glands to nourish their newborns following birth. These traits are fundamental to understanding the physiology of the Westie within the broader context of mammalian evolution.
Related Questions
What characteristic defines organisms placed in the Kingdom Animalia, separating them from fungi and plants?What key features characterize the Class Mammalia to which the West Highland White Terrier belongs?The Westie belongs to the Order Carnivora; what evolutionary implication does this historical grouping suggest?Within the Family level, the West Highland White Terrier is grouped with what other canid relatives?What is the specific scientific name designated for the entire population of domestic dogs, including the Westie?The subspecies designation links domestic dogs to which specific wild species through domestication?The Westie is classified within which functional grouping maintained by kennel clubs based on shared utility?What specific physical traits were deliberately selected for when breeding the Westie for its role in the Scottish Highlands?What was the original primary utility function that led to the development of the West Highland White Terrier breed?Which taxonomic rank is explicitly identified as a non-formal Linnaean rank used to define recognized breed groupings like the Westie?What divergence in classification logic is noted regarding the Order Carnivora versus contemporary Westie feeding guidelines?