Animal Classification

Mammals

Mammals are warm-blooded animals with a bony skeleton and fur or hair. The skeleton supports the body and protects the delicate parts inside.

There are nearly 4,500 different types of mammals. Most have babies that grow inside a mother's body. Only platypus, spiny anteaters and echidnas lay eggs. Mammal babies drink milk from their mother.

Most mammals have good senses of sight, smell, and hearing.

Most swimming mammals have flippers and fins instead of legs.

Bats are the only true flying mammals. Other animals that seem to fly, are really gliding from tree to tree.

Some mammals change color with the seasons.

Not all mammals are active during the day.

Many mammals live alone, but others live in groups.

Some mammals can burrow underground for protection or for their homes.

Some mammals are carnivores, other herbivores, and still others are omnivores.

Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. They cannot control their body temperature. A reptile's skin is dry and scaly. A reptile spends much of their time on land. Most reptiles are meat-eaters.

There are four kinds of reptiles: snakes and lizards, the crocodile family, tortoises and turtles, and the tuatara.

Reptiles like to bask, or sit in the sun. This helps them get warm so they can move around. When it gets cold, reptiles might sleep or hibernate.

Reptiles have waterproof skin made of keratin which may form into thick, tough plates.

Reptiles breathe only through their lungs.

Most reptiles live in warm or hot habitats away from the water. They may spend some time in the water, but most reptiles lay their eggs on land.

Most reptile eggs are tough, like leather. Crocodile and tortoise eggs have a hard shell. The eggs feed and protect the developing young. Reptiles look like miniature adults when they hatch out. Some snakes and lizards (viviparous) give birth to fully developed young.

There are more than 6,500 types or species of reptiles.

Amphibians

Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. They cannot control their body temperature. Most amphibians live in water and on land. Most amphibians are born and grow up in fresh water such as ponds, pools, streams, and rivers. They move onto dry land when they are adults and return to water to lay eggs. All amphibians are meat eaters.

There are three kinds of amphibians: frogs and toads, newts and salamanders, and caecilians.

The moist, smooth skin of the amphibian is usually soft. Oxygen can pass easily through their skin, because they can breathe through their skin as well as with their lungs. There are special glands under the skin's surface that produce a sticky substance called mucus. Amphibians also keep their skin moist by making sure they stay very close to water.

Most amphibians breathe through their skin and lungs, but lungless salamanders breathe only through their skin and the lining of the mouth.

Many amphibians live in very hot places, but they also like cool, damp laces. They like wet places so they can lay their eggs in water. Most amphibians lay soft eggs, which might be in a jelly-like string or clump of tiny eggs called spawn. Newts lay their eggs singly. A few amphibians (like the fire salamander) give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

When the weather gets cold, amphibians often hide away. They can hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the ponds or under stones and logs.

Most amphibians change their appearance completely as they grow. This is called metamorphosis.

There are more than 4,000 types or species of amphibians.

Birds

A bird has two legs, a pair of wings, and a body that is covered with feathers. There are over 9,000 different types or species of birds. The largest group are the passerines, or perching or song birds, like the robin.

All birds lay eggs. The egg protects the developing chick inside. The yellow yolk provides the baby bird with food while it is growing.

All birds have a beak for eating.

Some birds, like the penguin, are excellent swimmers.

Male birds try to attract females by showing off their beautiful feathers, performing special displays, or dances.

Birds make nests in which to lay their eggs and keep them safe.

Some birds migrate with changing seasons.

Many of the birds camouflage with their surroundings.

Insects

Insects have six legs, three body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen). Most kinds of insects have two pairs of wings which are attached to the thorax. Insects' bodies are covered with an exoskeleton.

Many insects move around mainly by hopping, jumping, or running rather than flying. Some insects are also able to walk up smooth, shiny surfaces such as walls.

Many kinds of insects live underwater in ponds, streams, rivers and lakes. Millions of insects live in the soil.

Most insects eat some kind of plant food - sap, leaves, roots, nectar, fruit, or berries. Insects even feed on old bits of damp and crumbling wood, dying trees, brown and decaying leaves, and smelly, rotting fruit.

Insects may be small, but some have very powerful bites and poison stings.

Some insects live together in colonies. All insects begin life inside an egg. The larva is the next stage, then pupa, and lastly the adult. These changes are called metamorphosis.

Insects have some of the best types of camouflage in the whole world of animals.

Some insects migrate when the weather turns cold.

Many insects make chirps, buzzes, clicks, screeches, hums, or other noises.

Arachnids

A spider has eight legs. It is not an insect, but an arachnid. All spiders are deadly hunters. They have large fanglike jaws which they use to grab and stab their prey. The fangs inject a poison to kill or quieten the victim. The spiders then tears it apart and eats it, or sucks out its body juices.

Spiders, mites and ticks have 8 legs and are also arachnids.

All spiders can make very thin, fine threads called silk. About half of the 40,000 different kinds of spiders make webs or nets to catch prey.

Scorpions have large, crab-like pincers, called pedipalps, to grab its prey, and powerful jaws like scissors to chop it up. The scorpion has a dangerous poison sting at the tip of its tail.