{"id":2089,"date":"2021-09-13T18:42:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T10:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=2089"},"modified":"2023-09-19T20:16:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:16:06","slug":"are-ants-mammals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Ants Mammals?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Ants are not mammals. While both are animals, they are very much different from each other.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mammals are a group of animals that have hair, produce milk for their young, and are warm-blooded. Ants don&#8217;t have any of those characteristics. Instead, as insects, they&#8217;re classified through their 3 body segments, 6 legs, and wings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article we\u2019ll learn more about why ants are not mammals as we discuss the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Characteristics of mammals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Differences between ants and mammals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-mammals-c-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants mammals\" class=\"wp-image-3213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-mammals-c-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-mammals-c-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-mammals-c-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-mammals-c.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/vmonte13-8508172\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3359937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Vane Monte<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3359937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#What_are_Mammals_Characteristics_of_Mammals\" title=\"What are Mammals? Characteristics of Mammals\">What are Mammals? Characteristics of Mammals<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Mammary_Glands\" title=\"Mammary Glands\">Mammary Glands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Fur_or_Hair\" title=\"Fur or Hair\">Fur or Hair<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Sweat_Glands\" title=\"Sweat Glands\">Sweat Glands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Middle_Ear_Bones\" title=\"Middle Ear Bones\">Middle Ear Bones<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Why_are_Ants_Not_Mammals\" title=\"Why are Ants Not Mammals?\">Why are Ants Not Mammals?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Ants_Dont_Have_Sweat_or_Mammary_Glands\" title=\"Ants Don\u2019t Have Sweat or Mammary Glands\">Ants Don\u2019t Have Sweat or Mammary Glands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Ants_Dont_Have_Ears\" title=\"Ants Don\u2019t Have Ears\">Ants Don\u2019t Have Ears<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Ants_Dont_Have_Hair\" title=\"Ants Don\u2019t Have Hair\">Ants Don\u2019t Have Hair<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Other_Differences_Between_Ants_and_Mammals\" title=\"Other Differences Between Ants and Mammals\">Other Differences Between Ants and Mammals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#What_Type_of_Animal_are_Ants\" title=\"What Type of Animal are Ants?\">What Type of Animal are Ants?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-mammals\/#Summary_Are_Ants_Mammals\" title=\"Summary: Are Ants Mammals?\">Summary: Are Ants Mammals?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Mammals_Characteristics_of_Mammals\"><\/span>What are Mammals? Characteristics of Mammals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mammals refer to the members of <strong>class Mammalia<\/strong>. It&#8217;s a diverse group of around 5,000 to 5,500 species which includes animals such as rats, cats, dogs, apes, and humans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-3-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-3-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-3-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-3-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/suju-foto-165106\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3703230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">suju-foto<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3703230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mammals are considered to be the most successful <strong>group of vertebrates<\/strong>. They&#8217;ve evolved specialized traits that help them survive in a variety of habitats. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ck12.org\/biology\/mammal-overview\/lesson\/Mammal-Characteristics-MS-LS\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ck12.org\/biology\/mammal-overview\/lesson\/Mammal-Characteristics-MS-LS\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These traits are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mammary_Glands\"><\/span>Mammary Glands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Female mammals have <strong>milk-producing glands<\/strong> called mammary glands.&nbsp; These glands are large, modified sweat glands located on the breast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mammals use these mammary glands to nurse and nourish their young.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fur_or_Hair\"><\/span>Fur or Hair<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A rather obvious mammalian feature is the presence of <strong>fur or hair<\/strong> at least at some point in their life cycle. This hair serves multiple functions, from sensing, communication, camouflage, and thermoregulation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sweat_Glands\"><\/span>Sweat Glands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sweat glands<\/strong> are secretory glands mammals use to secrete sweat. This sweat is a clear liquid that mammals use to cool down and thermoregulate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Middle_Ear_Bones\"><\/span>Middle Ear Bones<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The mammalian middle ear <strong>consists of three tiny bones<\/strong>: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. These three bones work together to amplify sound and send sound waves to the inner ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_Ants_Not_Mammals\"><\/span>Why are Ants Not Mammals?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants mammals\" class=\"wp-image-2095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-mammals-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/vlada11-892260\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=697329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vlada11<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=697329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants aren\u2019t mammals because they don\u2019t have mammalian characteristics. To be specific, they don&#8217;t have the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Dont_Have_Sweat_or_Mammary_Glands\"><\/span>Ants Don\u2019t Have Sweat or Mammary Glands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ants don\u2019t have sweat or mammary glands<\/strong>. They don\u2019t sweat to cool down and have no capability to produce milk for their young. Instead, they rely on the environment for both thermoregulation and food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Dont_Have_Ears\"><\/span>Ants Don\u2019t Have Ears<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants don\u2019t have the same internal structure as mammals because they d<strong>on\u2019t have ears<\/strong>. They hear through vibrations on the ground that they feel through their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-ants-hear\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2286\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how ants hear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Dont_Have_Hair\"><\/span>Ants Don\u2019t Have Hair<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some ant species have hair-like structures that they use to prevent overheating. These hairs are called seta (pl. setae) and aren\u2019t the same as mammalian hairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike mammalian hair that&#8217;s composed of keratin, seta is composed of chitin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Differences_Between_Ants_and_Mammals\"><\/span>Other Differences Between Ants and Mammals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants and mammals are further differentiated by the following characteristics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ants are Invertebrates<\/strong>: Unlike mammals, ants don\u2019t have spines or internal bone structures. Instead, they have exoskeletons(external skeletons) which provide structural support and shape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ants are Cold-Blooded<\/strong>: Mammals are warm-blooded and produce body heat internally. Ants, however, are cold-blooded and have to rely on the environment for thermoregulation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ants Don\u2019t Have Lungs<\/strong>: Ants don\u2019t breathe in oxygen in the same way that mammals do. Instead of lungs, they make use of tiny holes on the surface of their bodies called<strong> <\/strong>spiracles. These spiracles connect to tubes that distribute oxygen straight to the cells.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ants Lay Eggs<\/strong>: Ants are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs to produce young. Mammals on the other hand are usually viviparous or give birth to live offspring.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Type_of_Animal_are_Ants\"><\/span>What Type of Animal are Ants?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ants are insects<\/strong>. They have segmented bodies, three pairs of jointed legs, and two pairs of wings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more, see this article on <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-insects\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"68\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">why ants are insects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Are_Ants_Mammals\"><\/span>Summary: Are Ants Mammals?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, ants are not mammals. They don\u2019t share the defining characteristics that classify animals as mammals. They don\u2019t have sweat glands, mammary glands, hair, and three middle ear bones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from that they also differ in a number of ways including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Skeletal structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mode of reproduction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respiratory system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thermoregulation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ants are not mammals. While both are animals, they are very much different from each other. Mammals are a group of animals that have hair, produce milk for their young, and are warm-blooded. Ants don&#8217;t have any of those characteristics. Instead, as insects, they&#8217;re classified through their 3 body segments, 6 legs, and wings. In&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2089"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3761,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089\/revisions\/3761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}