Mammals are vertebrates--animals with a backbone. Mammals can be distinguished from other vertebrates because they generally have a covering of hair or fur.
Mammals are endothermic and can self-regulate their body temperature. They generate their own body heat internally. Body fat is used for insulation and hair or fur can prevent heat loss. Some mammals have sweat glands to regulate body temperature.
Vertebrates in the class Mammalia (mammals) have mammary glands which are capable in females of producing milk after a baby mammal is born to help nourish their young.
Mammals have a four-chambered heart and breathe air using well-developed lungs.
Mammals take care of their young for a greater period of time than any other group of vertebrates. During this time, the young learn survival skills from their parents.
Mammals have a more highly developed brain than any other vertebrates. Mammals are adapted to life in water, air and land with many specialized organs to help them survive in their various environments.
Another adaptation in mammals is their well-developed excretory system, which includes kidneys. These can regulate the water balance in the body and excrete the waste urea.
Their specialized teeth and jaws are adaptations for various ways of life. A rodent can gnaw with its incisors that grow throughout its life; a wolf has large canine teeth to tear the flesh of its prey.
No comments:
Post a Comment