Theycan be as huge as these whales,

or as tiny as this cute little balancing mouse.

They can be noisy like this howler monkey, or quiet

like this hedgehog with its sharp, pointy spines.

Even though they're amazingly diverse, all mammals have a number of common characteristics

you should know about, so you can recognize and differentiate them.

All mammals are viviparous, they are born from their mothers' womb. In their early

stages of life, they feed on milk, which they get from their mothers' breasts where the

mammary glands are. And that's why they're called mammals. And when they're little,

they're so cute, aren't they?

Mammals reproduce by internal fertilization

when a sperm cell and an egg join inside the female.

As you can see, they have teeth inside their mouths,

and lips around them so they can eat and suck milk.

Most mammals' bodies are covered with hair,

and all mammals breathe with their lungs, even if they live in the sea.

Look at these dolphins coming to the surface for air.

The body temperature of mammals doesn't

depend on whether it's cold or hot outside,

because they can maintain their own internal temperature.

Almost all mammals are terrestrial, like camels, and jaguars.

Some live in the sea and are called Marine mammals,like these dolphins,and these seals,

There's even a flying mammal, bats are the only mammal that flies.

Mammals have four limbs, which vary depending on where they live.

Land mammals have legs,so

they can walk,and run when they need to,and Jump.,and sometimes even climb.

Marine mammals have fins so they can swim very fast...

And flying mammals have wings so they can fly through the sky...

Do you know which is the most wonderful mammal that lives on Earth?

Human beings!

People are mammals too...

How mammals feed Depending on what they eat, mammals can be

classified into different groups. Herbivores only eat plants and their teeth

are especially designed for grinding.

Horses, sheep and llamas are herbivorous mammals.

Some very special herbivores are called ruminants. They swallow their food almost without chewing

it, and some of it is digested normally, but some of it is stored in their stomach, and

when they want to, they regurgitate it into their mouth to digest it again.

Cows, giraffes and goats are ruminants. Carne means skin or meat in Latin, and that's

what carnivores eat: the flesh of other animals. Their teeth are large and sharp for hunting

and tearing at their food. Carnivores that eat insects and other invertebrates

are called insectivores,like these anteaters.

Omnivorous mammals feed on both meat and plants.

Bears, monkeys and humans are omnivores: we can eat a tasty burger with lettuce and tomato.

So, let's remember,

Mammals are viviparous, and in their early stages of life

they feed on milk from their mother's breasts,

They have lips and breathe with their lungs,

Their body temperature does not depend on the environment they are in,

and depending on their food sources, they may be herbivores, carnivores or omnivores.

Easy, right? So goodbye for now, everybody!

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