Introducing Mammals!

Most of the animals we keep as pets, such as dogs, cats, and rabbits, and the animals we use for work, such as horses, are mammals. Humans are mammals too. Mammals belong to a group of animals called vertebrates, all of which have backbones. They are warm-blooded, which means they have a constant body temperature, no matter how cold or hot their surroundings may be. There are nearly 4,000 species of mammal, and most of these have hair or fur on their bodies. Except for the platypus and echidna, all mammals give birth to live young. Unlike other animals, they feed their young with milk. Mammals Evolved from reptiles that had several bones in the lower jaw. 

Types of Mammals


The three main groups of mammal are;
  1. monotremes
  2. marsupials
  3. placental mammals
Monotremes (the platypus and echidna) have many features in common with mammals' reptile ancestors. They have a single opening, called a cloaca, for reproduction and body wastes, and they lay eggs. 
Female marsupials such as opossums and wallabies, give birth to young that are not fully developed, and are protected in pouches until they can look after for themselves.
The young of placental mammals, such as humans and bushbabies, are fed inside the females' bodies by special organ called a placenta and are more developed than marsupials when born. 



 - Platypus mother and babies -

- Rock wallaby mother and a baby - 










- Bushbaby - 













Family life of mammals 

- a lion family -

Lions are typical mammals in many ways. Their bodies have fur, they work together to find food, and their young need to be cared for and fed with milk. Mammals look after their young longer than other vertebrates do. Lion cubs continue to nurse for up to six months.

Sleeping over

- a hibernated mouse - 

Because food is scarce in winter, many mammals conserve energy and live off the fat stored in their bodies by sleeping for long periods. This is called "hibernation". It lowers their body temperature, heartbeat and breathing. 

Growl!

- a growling wolf - 

Like many other mammals, wolves work together to find foods. This wolf is baring its sharp teeth to let other wolves know that it is angry. 

Ears and noses

- African Aardvark - 

 The African Aardvark has a large nose and big ears. Like Many other mammals, it has a well-developed sense of smell and good hearing. 



Did You Know?
The smaller the mammal, the faster the heartbeat! 
In one minute, a shrew's heart beats about 200 times, a human's heart beats about 65 times and an elephant's heart beats about 25 times. 
- a shrew - 

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