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minus-squareWhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up5arrow-down1·5 days 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 days 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.