Mammals -- Animals
Evolutionary Milestones
Mammals are the only animal to have hair, which provides insulation and water proofing.
Habitat
Mammals can live anywhere in the world, but monotremes are only found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and most marsupials are found in Australia.
Anatomical/Structural Features
Mammals have a diaphragm and lungs, a complex nervous system and senses, sweat, oil, and scent glands, and a four-chambered heart with a closed circulatory system. The type of teeth they have depends on the type of food they eat: chisel-shaped teeth for gnawing (beaver), canines for tearing and puncturing (lion), or premolars and molars for slicing, shearing, crushing, and grinding (humans). Young are fed with milk from the mammary glands. They have modified limbs, like opposable thumbs to grasp, and the ability to learn.
Symmetry
Mammals have bilateral symmetry.
How They Acquire Nutrients
Mammals are heterotrophs and can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
What They Eat
Mammals can eat grass, leaves, bark, insects, krill, fish, and other mammals.
What Eats Them
Birds, snakes, and other mammals (especially humans) can eat mammals.
Mobility
Mammals all have the same limb structures, but the bones are laid out differently to be used for different tasks. Mammals can walk, run, swim, or fly.
Reproduction
Mammals are classified by how they reproduce. Monotremes lay eggs. Marsupials' young have a short period of development within the mother's body, followed by a second period of development in a pouch made of skin and hair outside the mother's body. Placental mammals carry their young inside the uterus until development is nearly complete; the young is nourished by the placenta, and the time inside the placenta is call gestation.
Development
Mammals' young are born looking similar to the adult and grows bigger into an adult.
Examples
Some examples of Monotremes include the duck-billed platypus and spiny ant eater. Some examples of marsupials include kangaroos, opossums, spotted cuscus, and giant anteaters. Some examples of placental mammals include humans, elephants, dogs, bison, lions, and dolphins.
Other Information
95% of all mammals are placental.
Mammals are the only animal to have hair, which provides insulation and water proofing.
Habitat
Mammals can live anywhere in the world, but monotremes are only found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, and most marsupials are found in Australia.
Anatomical/Structural Features
Mammals have a diaphragm and lungs, a complex nervous system and senses, sweat, oil, and scent glands, and a four-chambered heart with a closed circulatory system. The type of teeth they have depends on the type of food they eat: chisel-shaped teeth for gnawing (beaver), canines for tearing and puncturing (lion), or premolars and molars for slicing, shearing, crushing, and grinding (humans). Young are fed with milk from the mammary glands. They have modified limbs, like opposable thumbs to grasp, and the ability to learn.
Symmetry
Mammals have bilateral symmetry.
How They Acquire Nutrients
Mammals are heterotrophs and can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
What They Eat
Mammals can eat grass, leaves, bark, insects, krill, fish, and other mammals.
What Eats Them
Birds, snakes, and other mammals (especially humans) can eat mammals.
Mobility
Mammals all have the same limb structures, but the bones are laid out differently to be used for different tasks. Mammals can walk, run, swim, or fly.
Reproduction
Mammals are classified by how they reproduce. Monotremes lay eggs. Marsupials' young have a short period of development within the mother's body, followed by a second period of development in a pouch made of skin and hair outside the mother's body. Placental mammals carry their young inside the uterus until development is nearly complete; the young is nourished by the placenta, and the time inside the placenta is call gestation.
Development
Mammals' young are born looking similar to the adult and grows bigger into an adult.
Examples
Some examples of Monotremes include the duck-billed platypus and spiny ant eater. Some examples of marsupials include kangaroos, opossums, spotted cuscus, and giant anteaters. Some examples of placental mammals include humans, elephants, dogs, bison, lions, and dolphins.
Other Information
95% of all mammals are placental.