What makes a mammal a mammal? Several things! Like other vertebrates, they have a skeleton on the inside of their bodies (endoskeleton). These bones are wrapped by muscle, tendons, veins and skin. Mammals have lower jaw that is hinged directly to the rest of the skull. Other vertebrates’ lower jaws hook indirectly to the skull. Mammals have hair… some more than others! This hair can be whiskers, spines (like on the porcupine), prickles, horns or fur. Some mammals are born bald and get hair as they age. Others like whales have hair when they are born. Mammals give live birth. Of course, there are always exceptions, like the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidnas, which lay eggs. Marsupials give live birth, but keep their young in pouches until developed. Female mammals produce milk for their young. If you come across an animal that has these features, you have found a mammal.

Armadillo
Three-banded Armadillo

Marsupials
Wallaby
Opossum

Insectivores
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
African Pygmy Hedgehog

Primates
Golden Lion Tamarin
Howler Monkey
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Spider Monkey

Rodents
Squirrel-like Rodents
Prairie Dog
Cavy-like Rodents
Chinchilla
Guinea Pig

Sloth
Linnaeus’ Two-toed Sloth

Carnivores, Civets & Relatives
Meerkat
European Ferret

Cats
Cheetah

Dogs & Relatives
Wolf

Raccoons & Relatives
Red Panda

Hoofed
Bactrian Camel

Deer
Tufted Deer

Cattle & Goats
African Pygmy Goat
Nubian Goat
Zebu

Horses & Zebra
Zebra