Mammals are a diverse group of animals that share several characteristics:

1. **Mammary Glands:** Mammals produce milk to feed their young, a characteristic that gives the
group its name.

2. **Hair or Fur:** Most mammals have some form of hair or fur covering their bodies, which helps
regulate body temperature and provides protection.

3. **Warm-Blooded:** Mammals are warm-blooded, meaning they can regulate their body
temperature internally, regardless of the external environment.

4. **Live Birth:** Most mammals give birth to live young, although there are exceptions like
monotremes (e.g., platypus, echidna) that lay eggs.

5. **Three Middle Ear Bones:** Mammals have three bones in the middle ear (the malleus, incus, and
stapes), which transmit sound vibrations.

6. **Specialized Teeth:** Mammals have different types of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, molars)
that are adapted to their diet.

Mammals are found in almost every habitat on Earth and include a wide range of animals, from tiny
shrews to massive whales. They play crucial roles in ecosystems as predators, prey, pollinators, seed
dispersers, and more.