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Mammals. Mandy Wood. Animal Classes. There are six major classes of animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, and mammals . We will learn about mammals and how they are different from the other types of animals. Amphibians. Fish. Reptiles. Mammals. Birds. Insects.
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Mammals Mandy Wood
AnimalClasses There are six major classes of animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, and mammals. We will learn about mammals and how they are different from the other types of animals. Amphibians Fish Reptiles Mammals Birds Insects
Facts about Mammals • There are about 4,000 types of mammals. But, this is a small class since there are over 20,000 types of fish and over 800,000 types of insects! • Humans are mammals!
Traits Common to All Mammals • They are warm-blooded. • They have fur or hair. • Mammal babies drink milk from their mothers. • Mammals are vertebrates; this means they have backbones or spines.
Warm-Blooded:What does it mean? Warm-blooded means that mammals maintain a relatively constant and warm body temperature. A mammal’s body temperature isn’t affected by outside temperatures. On the other hand, animals like reptiles are cold-blooded. The body temperature of cold-blooded animals changes with the environment.
Hair • All mammals have hair on their bodies. Bears, horses, and bats are clearly covered with fur. Even marine mammals (those that live in water), have hair, but you would need a microscope to see it.
Mammals Drink Milk • Baby mammals are born in different ways, but they all drink milk from their mothers. • Mammal mothers have special milk-producing glands called “mammary glands.” Only mammals have these! • Unlike fish or other animals, the babies depend on their mothers after they are born.
Mammals are Vertebrates What are vertebrates? Vertebrates are animals with a spinal cord encased in a vertebrae or a backbone.
Other Characteristics Common Only to Mammals • Jaw bones: Mammals have a single bone on either side, but other animals have more than one bone. • Ears: Mammals have three bones in their middle ear. • Hearts: The artery leaving our heart curves differently than any other animal’s heart. • Diaphragms: Mammals have a special sheet of muscles and tendons called a diaphragm. It separates the inside of the body into two parts.
Classifying Mammals • Mammals are classified by the way they are born. There are three main types. Monotremes Marsupials Placental Mammals
A duck-billed platypus Monotremes • They lay eggs! That’s right – mammals can lay eggs! • Common types of monotremes are the duck-billed platypus and echidnas.
Marsupials • Marsupials are mammals whose young are born very underdeveloped. Mother marsupials often have pouches. Their babies crawl into the pouches and drink their mothers’ milk. • Kangaroos, opossums, Tasmanian devils, and koalas are common types.
Placental Mammals • Placental mammals are mammals whose young are born at a more advanced stage. Before birth, the young are fed through a placenta. The placenta is a special organ that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the young, growing baby. • Common types: humans, rodents, elephants, and whales
Summary • Mammals 1) Are warm-blooded 2) Have hair 3) Drink milk from their mothers 4) Have backbones • There are three types – marsupials, monotremes, and placental mammals. • Humans, dolphins, dogs, bats, and koalas are all mammals!
Assessment • Now, let’s see how much we know about mammals! Click the link below, and it will direct you to a document that will test your new knowledge! Is it a Mammal? • For more mammal fun, visit these interesting facts pages! Mammal Facts Page Mammal Safari
