Why do mammals have different nipple counts?
For example dogs and cats have more than 2 nipples while humans have only 2.
At what point in the evolution did this occured, how and why?
Also, is it possible for humans to have more than 2 nipples, in a sense that is not a rare occasion?
In: Biology
It’s based on size of a litter or babies that are typical with a species. Humans have fewer nipples than animals cuz they give birth to fewer babies
Dogs and cats give birth to a lot of babies so they need a lot of nipples to feed them.
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Most mammals nipple count relates to the number of offspring per pregnancy. On average a mammal will give birth to half the number of offspring as they have nipples.
That math works out along nearly all mammals, it could be a very old trait or something that evolved a few times. Soft tissue doesn’t normally fossilize so hard to know what early mammals had.
Supernumerary nipples can occur in humans. They form along ‘milk lines’.
Extra credit: elephants have two nipples, and they are the front ones between the forelegs. So, boobies.
Supernumerary nipples can occur anywhere along the milk line from the shoulder to the groin. If you watch a lot of female porn you’ll see more than you expect, a friend tells me.
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