Which range best describes the number of orders in Mammalia?

Which range best describes the number of orders in Mammalia?

• A. Between 30 and 40
• B. Between 5 and 10
• C. Between 19 and 26
• D. Between 10 and 15

Answer: (C)

The number of orders in Mammalia is best described as around twenty, reflecting the wide variety of major lineages from egg-laying monotremes to marsupials and many placental orders. Taxonomists commonly recognize roughly 20–25 orders, with some sources counting up to about 26 depending on how groups are split or merged. So the range that fits this best is 19–26. The other options are too small or too large for the typical count of mammalian orders.

The number of orders in Mammalia is best described as around twenty, reflecting the wide variety of major lineages from egg-laying monotremes to marsupials and many placental orders. Taxonomists commonly recognize roughly 20–25 orders, with some sources counting up to about 26 depending on how groups are split or merged. So the range that fits this best is 19–26. The other options are too small or too large for the typical count of mammalian orders.