What is a mammal and what are its distinguishing characteristics?
1 Answer
Jul 15, 2014
Mammals are especially known for their mammary glands which females use to produce milk to feed their young.
They all also have hair, a neocortex ("new bark" - like the bark of the tree is the outer part) or outer part of the brain. The cortex is some times called the reptile brain.
Also they have three ear bones (the smallest bones in your body) and a heart that has four chambers.
They range in size from 30mm to 33 meters: the bumblebee bat and the blue whale.
Most give birth to live young except for a few egg laying mammals.
Bumblebee bat
