mammals live in many environments mammals are a diverse group mammals are endotherms mammals have...
TRANSCRIPT
Mammals live in many Environments
• MAMMALS ARE A DIVERSE GROUP
• MAMMALS ARE ENDOTHERMS
• MAMMALS HAVE ADAPTED TO MANY ENVIRONMENTS
• MAMMALS HAVE REPRODUCTIVE ADAPTATIONS
Mammals are a diverse group• Mice, cows, elephants,chimps, bats, whales & you
are all mammals. Some do well in cities, while others need very specific environments.
• Less than 5000 mammal species but come in many shapes & sizes, with different ways to move, find food and eat.
• All mammals: • -have HAIR during some part of their life
– Most have TEETH for consuming food– ALL produce MILK to feed their young
Mammals are Endotherms• Use food to generate body heat & have adaptations to control
body heat.
• Hair: may keep warm in cold (polar bear fur) or protect from extreme heat (camel hair)
• Soft, fluffy underhair keeps heat close to body; water-resistant guard hair covers underhairs & gives fur its color.
• Specialized hairs are used also– Whiskers (sensory touch hairs
– Quills of porcupine for self defense.
Mammals are Endotherms, cont.• Some mammals (like dolphins & whales) have little hair, but a layer of
fat called blubber to help maintain body temperature. (insulates organs from heat & cold)
• Body fat also stores energy in mammals, in the form of fat cells.– Hibernating animals may eat a lot more when food is available.– This makes them fat, so while hibernating, they don’t have to eat,
just live off their fat.
Mammals adapt to many Environments
• Some live underground: moles have strong claws to dig and can sense prey in the dark.
• Some live in trees: spider monkey can use its 4 limbs and tail to move through forest and never touch ground
• Some live in water: dolphins have blowhole, flippers & blubber to survive in water.
Mammals & Reproduction• Reproduce sexually by finding a
mate; may do this only certain time of year or all through the year.
• Internal fertilization, then offspring develops inside of female; usually a special organ (PLACENTA) transports nutrients, water & oxygen from mom’s blood to babies.
• Gestation = time it takes for baby to develop in mom before birth.
• Exceptions: platypus & spiny anteater have young hatching from eggs. Marsupials(opossum & kangaroos) have pouches where young finish developing after birth.
Raising Young• Milk (high energy liquid food full of protein, fat, sugar &
nutrients) is the first food young mammals consume.
• Mammary glands make milk in female mammals. For most mammals, only females care for young.
• Different mammals take different amounts of time to care for young before they’re on their own. (giraffes can walk as soon as born, seals nurse for only a month till on own, and humans take longest of all till are “on their own” without parents help.