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Mammals

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia

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Two Zebras
Author: Photo by Ducksters
What makes an animal a mammal?

Mammals are a particular class of animal. What makes an animal a mammal are several things. First, they must have glands that give milk. This is to feed their babies. Second, they are warm-blooded. Third, all mammals have fur or hair. Humans are mammals and so are dogs, whales, elephants, and horses. Most mammals have teeth with the exception of the ant eater which doesn't have any teeth.

Where do they live?

Mammals live in all sorts of environments including the ocean, underground, and on land. Some mammals, bats for example, can even fly.

Three Types of Mammals

Mammals are sometimes divided into three types based on how they give birth and take care of their young.
Largest and Smallest Mammals

The largest mammal is the Blue Whale which lives in the ocean and can grow to over 80 feet long. The largest land mammal is the elephant followed by the rhino and the hippo (which does spend a lot of time in the water). The smallest mammal is the Kitty's hog-nosed bat. This bat is 1.2 inches long and weighs less than 1/2 a pound. It is also called the bumblebee bat.


Author: Photo by Ducksters
Mammals Are Smart

Mammals have unique brains and are often very intelligent. Humans are the most intelligent. Other intelligent mammals include the dolphin, the elephant, the chimpanzee, and the pig. That's right, pigs are thought to be one of the smartest animals!

What do they eat?

Mammals that eat meat are called carnivores. Carnivores include lions, tigers, seals, and the largest carnivore mammal which is the polar bear. Mammals that eat only plants are called herbivores. Some herbivores are cows, elephants, and giraffes. Mammals that eat both meat and plants are called omnivores. Humans are omnivores.

Fun Facts About Mammals

Author: Photo by Ducksters
Activities

Mammals Crossword Puzzle
Mammals Word Search

For more about mammals:

African Wild Dog
American Bison
Bactrian Camel
Blue Whale
Dolphins
Elephants
Giant Panda
Giraffes
Gorilla
Hippos
Horses
Meerkat
Polar Bears
Prairie Dog
Red Kangaroo
Red Wolf
Rhinoceros
Spotted Hyena

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