Lindsey Riehl, Renee Reazor, Maura Sprecher Mammals Lindsey Riehl, Renee Reazor, Maura Sprecher

Mammals Mammals are one of the 6 main classes of animals There are about 4500 species of mammals They were found to have evolved from reptiles called synapsids 275-310 million years ago Mammal comes from the Latin word “mamma”

Characteristics of Mammals All mammals have hair or fur What looks like hair on a fly or a spider actually contains living parts of the animal. So if you cut the hair of a spider it would actually hurt them! Mammals are warm blooded Most mammals give live birth but all mammal mothers nurse their young All mammals are vertebrates, but believe it or not most animals don’t have a backbone Activity: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/mammals/challenges/ click on mammal maker

Types of Mammals Monotremes: The monotremes are primitive egg-laying mammals. Modern-day monotremes include the echidnas (spiny ant-eaters) and the duck-billed platypus.

Types of Mammals Marsupials: Marsupials are another group of mammals; their young are born in an extremely immature state; most female marsupials have pouches. Some marsupials include the koala, kangaroo, and the numbat.

Types of Mammals Placental mammals: Placental mammals are mammals whose young are born at a relatively advanced stage (more advanced than the young of other mammals, the monotremes and marsupials). Before birth, the young are nourished through a placenta. The placenta is a specialized embryonic organ that is attached the mother's uterus and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the young. Most mammals are placental mammals, like cats, dogs, horses, and people.

Eating Habits Mammals have to eat a lot to maintain their high body temperature. Diets vary from genus to genus. Herbivores- like beavers, cows, horses, pandas Carnivores- like whales, dolphins, tigers Omnivores- like people and some bears Insectivores- like aardvarks and anteaters ---The diet and ecology of mammals have influenced the evolution of the shape of the skull and type of teeth

More About Mammals The lungs of mammals are more efficient at obtaining oxygen than the lungs of reptiles and amphibians. Mammals have a 4-chambered hearts. Mammals nourish their young with milk. Milk is produced by mammary glands located on the female’s chest or abdomen. All mammals have mammary glands. Young mammals are nourished on milk from birth until weaning. Mammals are more diverse in size, anatomy, and habitat than all other vertebrate groups. All mammals reproduce by internal fertilization. Mammals are divided into the three groups based on differences in how and where the fertilized egg develops.

Fun Facts 25% can fly No two giraffes have the same spot pattern Whales and dolphins sleep with one side of their brain at a time with the other side awake to watch for danger Chimpanzees can bald as they age just like humans Hippopotamuses produce a reddish oil from their sweat glands to act as a sunscreen Howler monkeys are the loudest animals http://www.pitara.com/activities/quiz/online.asp?qname=mammals

Works Cited http://www.zimbio.com/member/JungleJane/articles/2553200/Unusual+Animals+Civet+Echidna http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t049/T049934A.jpg http://www.lincolnhall.net/nss-folder/pictures1/OZ.Numbat.jpg http://borrowedearth.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/koala.jpg http://www.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/cats_sleeping_positions.jpg http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/ http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/mammals.htm