Mammals
Mammals are warm blooded, have hair, a backbone and give birth to live young. Strangely enough, some mammals lay eggs, they are called monotremes and include the platypus and the echidna. Most do give birth to live young.
Mammals include whales and dolphins which also have hair. We are mammals as we are apes, part of the primate family.
Only mammals raise their young on milk. They do this until the juvenile is old enough to eat solid food. Some juveniles only suckle for a few weeks, some for months, whilst others will for years.
Rodents - like mice and rats - make up almost half of all mammals, with bats making up a further quarter. This leaves the final quarter for all the rest.
Mammals can be found in every continent and in nearly every habitat on earth. They live in the sea (seals), they live in the sky (bats), they live in deserts (camels) and even live ont he highest mountains (yak).
- Biggest - Blue whale can reach 110 foot and are the biggest animal that's ever lived. Even bigger than the largest dinosaur.
- Smallest - Bumble bee bat 30-40mm.
- Most dangerous - Apart from humans (the most dangerous animal in the world) the 2nd is the hippo that kills more people than any other mammal.
- Fastest - Cheetah's can run at over 70 miles per hour.
To find out more about the various species of mammals that may be covered during our lectures, click on the images.