The mammal and birds that everyone thinks of first are "charismatic". Mammals, especially the young, look cute to us. (Cuteness appears to be tied to neoteny.)

The mammal and birds that everyone thinks of first are "charismatic". Mammals, especially the young, look cute to us. (Cuteness appears to be tied to neoteny.) You'll note that the three mammals after the primate quote are bear, squirrel, and whale. Two of the three are on the charismatic megafauna list, and squirrels are often considered cute. Later on there's "pigs, whales and naked mole rats". Of the mammal species listed, only is an unfamiliar animal, and rarely considered cute. Too bad more non-cute mammals weren't on the list. How many people think of the promiscuous monkey, or the Philippine tarsier - both primates - as being 'close to home'? What of bats, and the brown rat? I think most people would identify with many avians before identifying with a bat.