Mammals

Characteristics of Mammals Most mammals have hair or fur covering their bodies. Mammals are capable of regulating their own body temperature. Metabolism controls heat production and sweat glands cool the body. Mammals give birth to fully formed babies. Females are able to produce milk to feed their young. Ring-tailed Lemur Mountain Lion Polar Bear

Locomotion Most mammals walk on four legs, with the only exception of humans, who walk upright on two legs. Aquatic mammals have flippers or fins for swimming instead of legs.

Types of Mammals Mammals are divided into three subclasses based upon their method of reproduction. Placental Mammals – The young develops in mother’s uterus. Examples: Giraffe, Elephant, Bat, etc. Marsupials – The young develop in mother’s pouch. Examples: Kangaroo, Koala. Monotremes – The mother has fur and produces milk, but lays eggs. Examples: Duck-billed Platypus, Echidna.

Placental Mammals Giraffe Located in Africa, giraffes have an average lifespan of 20 years. Giraffes are the tallest animals and have the highest blood pressure of any animal.

Elephant There are two species of elephant: African and Asian Elephants have an average lifespan of 60-80 years. Elephants keep cool by throwing dirt on their backs and by fanning their ears. African Elephant Asian Elephant

Vampire Bat Bats are the only mammal that can fly and they make up one quarter of all mammal species! Vampire bats live in South America and have an average lifespan of 5-10 years They survive by drinking blood from other animals.

Marsupials Kangaroo There are over 60 species of kangaroos. Kangaroos are marsupials who live in Australia and have an average lifespan of 7-15 years. Their young are born after 5 weeks, whereby they crawl into the pouch for further development Male kangaroos box with each other to show dominance.

Koala Koalas are marsupials from Australia who have an average lifespan of 15-20 years. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves, and do not drink water (the name Koala means “no drink”) Koalas sleep between 16-22 hours a day in order to digest the eucalyptus. Koala Front Paw Hind Paw

Monotremes Duck-billed Platypus The duck-billed platypus lives in Australia and has an average life span of 10 years. The male duck-billed platypus has a poisonous spur on his hind legs. Platypuses live in burrows and find food in rivers.

Echidna The echidna, also known as a spiny anteater, lives in Australia. Echidnas are nocturnal animals, and are currently endangered. Echidnas have spurs on their hind legs that produced venom at one point in their evolutionary history.