fossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 months agoegg timemander.xyzimagemessage-square34fedilinkarrow-up1623
arrow-up1623imageegg timemander.xyzfossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 months agomessage-square34fedilink
minus-squareWhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up5·5 months agoWell, you have to be descended from a particular branch of the evolutionary tree that has the ability to secrete milk from mammary glands. If, say, a mollusc independently evolved milk production that wouldn’t make it a mammal.
minus-squareJasonDJ@lemmy.ziplinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2·5 months agoThey wouldn’t independently evolve mammary glands, because only mammals have mammary glands, and they are not mammals, but mollusca. I’d say that’s a bit of a chicken/egg situation, but I don’t think we need to bring in more classes.
Well, you have to be descended from a particular branch of the evolutionary tree that has the ability to secrete milk from mammary glands. If, say, a mollusc independently evolved milk production that wouldn’t make it a mammal.
They wouldn’t independently evolve mammary glands, because only mammals have mammary glands, and they are not mammals, but mollusca.
I’d say that’s a bit of a chicken/egg situation, but I don’t think we need to bring in more classes.