evolutionary success of humans

I understand that there are approximately 6 billion humans. How does
this compare with the total number of living mammals? Is there any
other mammalian species as numerous?

I am a little bit puzzled by our evolutionary success because we have
an enormous number of relative disadvantages compared to other mammals.
Here are just a few of them.

1) Long gestation period.
2) Almost no multiple births.
3) Bad hearing.
4) Poor mobility -- slow on land, and terrible at swimming and
climbing.
5) Terrible sense of smell.

Paul Epstein


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: evolutionary success of humans
    ... > this compare with the total number of living mammals? ... I think that mice and rats may outnumber us, ... organism mass) we are probably the most significant land mammal. ... > an enormous number of relative disadvantages compared to other mammals. ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: evolutionary success of humans
    ... >>> does this compare with the total number of living mammals? ... >> Until the development of agriculture humans were outnumbered by a lot ... I've seen estimates that since Homo erectus spread out of Africa that ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: evolutionary success of humans
    ... > this compare with the total number of living mammals? ... > an enormous number of relative disadvantages compared to other mammals. ... Until the development of agriculture humans were outnumbered by a lot ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)