Characteristics of Mammals

1. Characteristics of Mammals By Noelle Thrash

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Other characteristics • They are endothermic- they can contain a constant body temperature. • They also guard their young. • Some actually lay eggs!