Download Characteristics of Mammals

Characteristics of Mammals
By Noelle Thrash
Mammals have hair
• mammals are the only animals that have hair
or fur.
• Mammalian fur is made out of keratin.
• It provides insulation and can be waterproof.
• It can also provide protection, camouflage,
and communication.
• Quills are modified hairs.
Mammals nurse their young
• Mammals have mammary glands that secretes
milk so that they can nurse their young.
• Mammals nurse their young till they are
mature enough to find food on their own.
• The amount of time the baby nurses varies
from species to species.
Respiratory and circulatory system
• Mammals have lungs
• Diaphragm- is the sheet of muscle located
beneath the lungs.
• The diaphragm separates the chest cavity
from the abdominal cavity, where other
organs are located.
• Have 4- chambered hearts
Mammalian teeth
• Mammals have different types of teeth
adapted to the type of food they eat.
• Incisors for gnawing, canines for puncturing
and tearing flesh, and premolars and molars
for slicing shearing crushing and grinding.
• You can tell what type of food they eat by the
teeth.
• Hoofed animals are cud chewers so they can
break down the cellulose of plants.
Modified limbs
• Mammals have modified front limbs
• Primates have opposable thumbs to grasp
objects
• Bats have front limbs that are modified into
wings
• Mammals front limbs are adapted for a variety
of methods of food gathering
Mammals can learn
• Mammals are successful because they can
learn.
• Mammals have a very large and complex brain
• They teach their young to survive and find
food.
• The outer layer of the mammalian brain often
is folded, forming ridges and grooves.
• This increases the brains active surface area
by three times.
Other characteristics
• They are endothermic- they can contain a
constant body temperature.
• They also guard their young.
• Some actually lay eggs!