Mammals can be grouped based on how they give birth to their young. There are over 4,600 mammal species that can be categorized as monotremes, marsupials, or placentals. Monotremes such as the platypus and spiny anteater lay eggs for their young to develop in. Marsupials like kangaroos and koalas give birth to very immature young that crawl into their mother's pouch to develop further. Placentals make up the largest group and have a placenta that exchanges materials between the mother and developing embryo.
Mammals can be grouped based on how they give birth to their young. There are over 4,600 mammal species that can be categorized as monotremes, marsupials, or placentals. Monotremes such as the platypus and spiny anteater lay eggs for their young to develop in. Marsupials like kangaroos and koalas give birth to very immature young that crawl into their mother's pouch to develop further. Placentals make up the largest group and have a placenta that exchanges materials between the mother and developing embryo.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Mammals can be grouped based on how they give birth to their young. There are over 4,600 mammal species that can be categorized as monotremes, marsupials, or placentals. Monotremes such as the platypus and spiny anteater lay eggs for their young to develop in. Marsupials like kangaroos and koalas give birth to very immature young that crawl into their mother's pouch to develop further. Placentals make up the largest group and have a placenta that exchanges materials between the mother and developing embryo.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Pg 2 OBJ: Describe the characteristics of mammals.
III. Kinds of Mammals - there are over 4,600 species of mammals.
- the are sometimes grouped to how they give birth to their young. MONOTREME = mammals that lay eggs. - only three kinds of animals in this group: - duck-bill platypus / two types of spiny anteater - the young develop in an egg surrounded by a hard shell. MARSUPIALS = mammal whose young develops in pouches. - the young are born at a very early stage and then crawl to a pouch, or pocket, on the belly of the mother. - kangaroos / koalas / opossums PLACENTA = structure through which materials are exchanged between the mother and developing embryo. - this is the largest group of mammals.