Mammal | Definition, Characteristics, Classification, Facts
What makes an Animal a Mammal?
Mammals are a special class of animals. What makes an animal a mammal is several things. First, they must have milk-producing glands. It is to raise their children. Second, they are warm-blooded people. Third, all mammals have fur or hair. Humans are mammals, just like dogs, whales, elephants, and horses. Most mammals have teeth with the exception of anteaters which do not.
Highlights of Mammals:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Mammalia |
Where do Mammals live?
Mammals live in all types of environments, including oceans, underground, and on land. Some mammals, such as bats, can even fly.
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Three types of mammals
Mammals are sometimes divided into three categories based on how they give birth and care for their young.
Live young – Most mammals give birth to live young (instead of laying eggs like birds or reptiles). These mammals are called placental mammals.
Marsupials – Marsupials are special types of mammals that carry their young in a pouch. Some marsupials include kangaroos, koalas and opossums.
Egg laying – Some mammals lay eggs, they are called monotremes. Monotremes include the platypus and the long-nosed spiny anteater.
Largest and Smallest Mammals
The largest mammal is the ocean blue whale and can grow to over 80 feet long. The largest land mammal is elephants, followed by rhinos and hippos (which spend a lot of time in the water). The smallest mammal is the pig-nosed kitty bat. This bat is 1.2 inches long and weighs less than 1/2 pound. It is also known as the bumblebee bat.
Mammals Are Smart
Mammals have a unique brain and are often very intelligent. Humans are the most intelligent. Other intelligent mammals include dolphins, elephants, chimpanzees, and pigs. That’s right, pigs are considered one of the smartest animals!
What do Mammals eat?
Carnivorous mammals are called carnivores. Carnivores include lions, tigers, seals, and the largest carnivorous mammal is the polar bear. Mammals that eat only plants are called herbivores. Some of the herbivores are cows, elephants and giraffes. Mammals that eat both meat and plants are called omnivores. Humans are omnivores.
Interesting Facts About Mammals
The giraffe’s tongue is 20 inches long. They use it to clean their own ears.
A hardworking mole can dig a hole up to 300 feet deep overnight.
The heart of a whale beats very slowly. As slow as once every 6 seconds.
Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. There are more than 4,200 species of mammals.
Despite the hump, the camel’s spine is straight.
Cheetahs can run up to 70 miles per hour.