Reproduction in Mammals: General Overview

Richard M Harrison, Tulane Regional Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001855

Reproduction in mammals is sexual and, with rare exceptions, fetal nutrition is provided via a placenta. The reproductive and developmental processes are similar in most mammalian species although the time of events can differ greatly.

Keywords: oestrus; menstrual cycle; placentation; seasonality; fetal development

Figure 1. Uterine configurations. (a) Double uterus, found in monotremes. (b) Double uterus with two vaginas, found in marsupials. (c) Bifid with small uterine body, found in rodents. (d) Two-pronged with larger uterine body, found in carnivores and ungulates. (e) Simplex with large uterine body, found in bats and primates. Drawn by Anne Morvant.
close
 Further Reading
    book Benirschke K and Kaufmann P (1997) Placental types. Pathology of the Human Placenta, 3rd edn, pp. 1–13. New York: Springer-Verlag.
    book Boitani L and Bartoli S (1983) Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. New York: Simon and Schuster.
    book Gilbert SF (1997) Developmental Biology, 5th edn. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.
    book Nowack RM (ed.) (1999) Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edn. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Related Sub-Topics:

Gametogenesis and Fertilisation | General Developmental Biology | Life History and Reproduction
Contact Editor close
Submit a note to the editor about this article by filling in the form below.

* Required Field

Article Title: Reproduction in Mammals: General Overview
 
How to Cite close
Harrison, Richard M(Apr 2001) Reproduction in Mammals: General Overview. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001855]