Learn all about mammals - from their hair and live births to milk feeding and body temperature regulation. Find out what makes animals like cats, dogs, and dolphins special as mammals in this easy-to-understand guide for 5th graders.
A mammal is a type of animal that has some special characteristics. First of all, all mammals have hair or fur on their bodies. You can think of animals like dogs, cats, and bears as examples of mammals because they all have hair! Another important thing about mammals is that they have a special way of feeding their babies. Instead of laying eggs, like birds or reptiles, mammal mommies give birth to live babies. This means that the babies grow inside their mommy's body before being born, just like us!
Additionally, all mammals can produce milk to feed their babies. The mommies have special glands called mammary glands that create milk, so the babies can drink it to grow big and strong. You've probably seen baby cows drinking milk from their mommy's udders, and that's an example of how mammals feed their young! Lastly, mammals are warm-blooded, which means they can regulate their body temperature, so they don't rely on the outside environment to keep warm. That's why animals like dolphins, elephants, and even humans are all mammals!
So, to sum it up, mammals have hair or fur, give birth to live babies, feed their babies with milk, and are warm-blooded. Remember, if an animal has all these special traits, it's most likely a mammal!