Identify characteristics of mammals

Mammals, comprising about 5,200 species, are vertebrates that possess hair and mammary glands. Several other characteristics are distinctive to mammals, including certain features of the jaw, skeleton, integument, and internal anatomy. Modern mammals belong to three clades: monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians (or placental mammals).

What You’ll Learn to Do

• Identify characteristics of mammals
• Name and describe the distinguishing features of the three main groups of mammals
• Describe the evolutionary history of mammals
• Identify characteristics of primates
• Describe the evolutionary history of primates
• Describe the evolutionary history of humans

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include the following:

• Mammals
• Primates
• Evolution of Humans
• Self Check: Mammals