# Mammals (*Mammalia*) Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have fur or hair and usually give birth to live young. They are found all over the world and come in many shapes and sizes, from tiny mice to huge whales. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Various habitats ![Mammals](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Australidelphia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Afranklady, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australidelphia.jpg) ## Appearance The Mammals have hair or fur covering their bodies, providing insulation and camouflage. They possess four limbs for movement, though some have adapted wings or fins. Most display diverse colors, from drab browns to vibrant patterns, adapted to their specific environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia ## Interesting facts - Mammals are found everywhere on Earth, even under ice and in the deepest oceans! - Mammals are the only animals with hair and mammary glands. - Some mammals, like kangaroos, carry their babies in a pouch called a marsupium. - The smallest mammal is a tiny bumblebee bat, weighing less than a penny! ## Special abilities - **Internal Thermostat:** Mammals can regulate their own body temperature because of their specialized metabolism that keeps them warm in any weather. - **Milk Makers:** Mammals can nourish their young with milk produced by mammary glands, which helps babies grow strong and healthy. - **Smart Thinkers:** Mammals have complex brains that allow for advanced learning and problem-solving, helping them adapt to changing environments. - **Insulating Coat:** Mammals have hair or fur that helps them stay warm and protects their skin from the sun and elements. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3-3000 cm - **Wingspan:** 15-170 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-190000 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-200 years - **Speed:** 0.2-120 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-36 - **Gestation:** 12-660 days ## Diet & Feeding Mammals eat a vast array of foods, from tiny insects and plants to other large animals. - **Age differences:** Young mammals drink milk, then transition to adult diets. - **Primary Foods:** plants, insects, fish, meat, fruits - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Grey Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — A top predator that hunts many hoofed mammals. - **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — Many mammals, from humans to raccoons, consume this plant. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — A common prey for many predatory mammals. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Grazing mammals like deer and cattle consume this grass. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always observe mammals from a distance and never try to touch or feed them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mammals? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mammals? 3-3000 cm ### What is Mammals's wingspan? 15-170 cm ### How much does Mammals weigh? 0.002-190000 kg ### How long does Mammals live? 1-200 years ### How fast can Mammals move? 0.2-120 km/h ### What does Mammals eat? Mammals eat a vast array of foods, from tiny insects and plants to other large animals. ### Where is Mammals usually found? Various habitats ## Where to spot - [Stemwinder Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stemwinder-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Mammals: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mammals)