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!