GOOD MORNING CLASS!

LET US PRAY.In the name of the Father, of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit Amen.Our Father who art in Heaven, holy

be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen.

MAMMALS

Mammals are animals with characteristics different from others. These characteristics include the following: have mammary glands that produce milk to nourish their young; most have hair or fur; breathe in air; have four-chambered hearts; warm-blooded; give birth to live young and care for them.

CLASSIFICATION OF MAMMALS

Mammals just like other animals have classifications and they possess unique characteristics. These groups are the following:

1. MONOTREMES2. MARSUPIALS3. EUTHERIANS

MONOTREMES

The first group of mammal that lay eggs similar to those of birds. The spiny anteater (echidnas) living in Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea as well as the duck-billed platypus are members of this group.

Example of monotremes

duck-billed platypus spiny anteater

MARSUPIALS

This is the second group of mammals which are also named as the pouched mammals. These mammals give birth to live young and after birth, the young are kept inside the pouches and are nourished with the milk from their mammary gland inside their pouches. Opossum, koalas, kangaroos, wombats and flying phalangers are examples of this group and mostly are found in Central and South Africa and in Australia.

Examples of marsupials

koala kangaroo

opossum flying phalangers

EUTHERIANS

This is the third group and comprises the largest of the mammals. These mammals are known as the placental mammals because the fully developed young inside the mother’s uterus are attached to the placenta through which they receive nourishment until birth. After birth, they continue to be cared for and nourished by milk from mammary glands.

EXAMPLES OF PLACENTAL MAMMALSORDER CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE

Insectivora Insect-eating Shrews, moles

Chiroptera Flying Bats

Rodentia Gnawing rats, mice, squirrels

Lagomorpha Rodent like rabbits, hares

Edentata Toothless Armadillos

Cetacea Aquatic Whales, dolphins

Sirenia Aquatic Dugong, manatee

Proboscidea Trunk-nosed Elephants

Carnivora Flesh-eating Dogs, cats, bears, seals walrus

Ungulata Hoofed foot Horses, zebras, carabao, goat, pig

Primates Large brain relative to body size

Lemurs, monkeys, humans, apes

dogs lemurs tiger

armadillos

whales shrews

PRIMATES

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRIMATES most highly developed of all animals able to walk erect, with fingers and toes high degree of intelligence exhibit social behavior take care of orphaned individuals fight with competing groups

monkeys and apes humans

IMPORTANCE OF MAMMALS IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Mammals are present in various places, may it be in the coolest place to the hottest region of the Earth. And their presence played a very vital role in the ecosystem and in the environment we have now. Mammals in an ecosystem develops various relationships specially the prey-predator relationship. And we are the living witness of these processes and activities that mammals do. In whatever way, good or bad, mammals affect the ecosystems where they live.

LET’S TRY THIS!

Direction: Answer the following questions.

1. What are the characteristics of Eutherians? Give at least three (3) examples. (5 points)

2. Give the characteristics of mammals and name at least five (5) examples. (5 points)

3. Define marsupials and give at least three (3) examples. (5 points)

4. Enumerate the characteristics of monotremes and site at least two (2) examples. (5 points)5. Are mammals important in the ecosystem? Why or why not? Explain. (10 points)

ASSIGNMENTDirection: Identify what group of mammals the following belong to. Write your answers in a one-half sheet of paper.

1. koala 6. horses2. Bats 7. spiny anteater3. Rabbits 8. humans4. Lemurs 9. kangaroo5. Dugong 10. platypus

THANK YOU!

See you next meeting.

REFERENCES:

Grade 8 ScienceUnit 4 Living Things ad Their Environment

Module 1 BiodiversityThe Animal Kingdom

pp. 264-266

Encarta Kids EncyclopediaPhoto credits: Encarta Encyclopedia

Demonstrated by:

Recil E. CastoloBSED 302