Download Birds and Mammals

Birds and Mammals
Graphic Organizer Notes
Mr. Littlejohn
Birds
Characteristics – birds have some characteristics with reptiles including the
amniotic egg, the legs and feet of birds are dry and covered with scales. Birds also
have some characteristics that are found only on birds. We will look at these:
Feathers – 1) Down feathers keep birds warm, 2) Contour feathers – have
a stiff shaft and many side branches and used for flight in the birds
that can fly.
Preening Feathers – the act of grooming and maintaining their feathers.
Molting – the shedding of an exoskeleton (insects, crustaceans), skin
(snakes), and feathers (BIRDS) and replaced with new.
Energy requirements – birds use a lot of energy and must take in many
calories to maintain homeostasis. Many birds feed the majority of
the day. Birds have a gizzard that grinds their food. They have a
“crop” that stores food material until the gizzard can grind it. They
use a lot of energy so digestion MUST BE FAST.
Temperature – with such a high metabolism, their body temperature is
fairly high.
Flight – birds can fly. They have a rapid beating heart to supply their body
with blood. Their lungs are modified to maintain good levels of
oxygen for their blood. They have light bones for flight.
Care for Offspring – Birds care for their young until they are old enough
to search for food and fly on their own. Birds sit on their eggs
“called brooding” and incubate them until they hatch and then
provide food for the young. Precocial – birds that hatch with
feathers and can follow parents around to feed, they only need
parents for warmth if necessary. Altricial – when these birds hatch
they hove no feathers and are weak, eyes are closed and cannot
walk or fly, their parent(s) must feed them for several weeks before
they can survive on their own.
Unique Birds “Flightless” – A few species of birds can not fly. These include the
penguin, kiwi, and the ostrich. These birds do not have the wings required for flight given
the size of their body. These birds have small wings compared to their body size.
Waterbirds – Called waterfowl. These include ducks, geese, cranes, herons, and shore
birds you may be familiar with.
Birds of Prey – these birds are the “hunters of the sky”, they are carnivores. Examples
include hawks, falcons, owls, and eagles.
Perching birds – these include the birds that are most often seen perching in trees and
bushes. Examples: Chickadee, parrot, sparrows, blue jays, scarlet tanagers and other
songbirds.
Mammals
Origin – scientists think mammals evolved from therapsids, which were ancient
reptiles.
Mammal Characteristics:
Mammary glands – these function to secrete nutritious milk for the offspring of
mammals. It is high in fat content, water, protein and sugars for the young
to feed on.
Endotherms – mammals are warm-blooded. They carry out cellular respiration
and this generates heat that helps maintain a constant body temperature.
Teeth – mammals have teeth that include teeth of special uses. Incisors cut,
canines hold, molars grind.
Lungs – mammals have lungs that function when the diaphragm contracts and
relaxes. When the diaphragm contracts, mammals inhale (take in air).
When it relaxes, they exhale (release air in the form of carbon dioxide and
water).
Parenting – mammals also take care of their young and nurture their young.
Mammals also teach needed information to their young so their young
have a higher chance for survival
Mammals Types
Monotremes – egg layers. These include the echidnas and duckbilled platypus.
Marsupials – mammals with pouches for their young to grow and develop.
Mammals like the kangaroo and the opossum.
Placental Mammals – mammals that form a placenta within the uterus to nurture
the growing and developing embryo within the female. The embryo
develops in the mothers uterus and is born after proper development have
occurred. Different mammals have different developmental times.
Example: humans require 9 months for proper embryo development
before birth is given. Elephants require 23 months, some mammals may
only require a month or two for full embryo development.
Types of Placental Mammals
Toothless – anteaters and armadillos do not have teeth. They feed on small
insects and grubs.
Insect Eaters- called insectivores. Examples include shrews and moles that
feed on insects and insect larvae under the surface of the ground.
Rodents – examples: rats, mice, squirrels, muskrats, beavers, nutria and
capybaras. These animals must chew on things to keep their teeth wore
down. If they did not chew on items, their incisors would constantly grow
and eventually grow long enough to impale their body and kill the animal.
Lagamorphs – these mammals have 2 sets of incisors. They must also
chew on items to maintain their incisor length like rodents. Examples
include rabbits and hares.
Flying mammals – These include bats. They locate their food with a sonar
type adaptation. They make clicking noises and when the sound waves
strike an object the waves are deflected and the bats know how far away
the object is based on how long it takes for the sound waves to return.
Carnivores – meat eaters. Examples – wolves, coyotes, cats, raccoons,
weasels, mink, bears, and hyenas to mention some.
Hoofed mammals – mammals with hoofed feet. These include giraffes,
cows, deer, camels, bison, and zebras to name some of them.
Trunk-Nosed Mammals – Example: Elephants. They have the capability to
use their trunk like a “hand”.
Cetaceans – This group of mammals includes the dolphins and porpoises.
These mammals live in the oceans, but they must come to the surface to
breathe and get oxygen.
Sirenia – These are the smallest group of water dwelling mammals. The
example is the manatee.
Primates – Includes monkeys, apes, humans and orangutan. These
mammals can walk upright and they have 5 toes and fingers. They also
have the “intelligence” to make tools. Humans are the most complex and
show the most intelligence most of the time.
You must now go through this organizer and make drawings for a better
understanding of the birds and mammals.