OL
Arthur Balitskii/Shutterstock.com
Mammals
Mammals are a large group of animals with
common characteristics. Humans, dogs, cats, and
almost every other furry creature on the planet
are mammals. Just like many other types of
creatures, mammals need food, water, and shelter
to survive. Without these basic needs, they will not
be able to survive or reproduce.
Mammals are usually covered in fur and are
warm-blooded. This means they can regulate their
own body temperatures. Their babies are born
alive and drink milk from their mothers. However,
there are two mammals that lay eggs – the
platypus and the echidna! Mammals breathe
using lungs and have a skeleton. They are known
as vertebrates because they have a skeleton and
spine.
HappyPictures/Shutterstock.com
Reptiles
Reptiles are another group of animals with
common traits. Reptiles need food, water and
shelter, but they also have needs unlike any other
animals.
Reptiles have dry, scaly skin and are cold-blooded.
This means they depend on their environment to
regulate their body temperature. If the
temperature is too cold, a reptile cannot survive.
Reptile babies hatch from eggs and many of them
survive without their parents after they are born.
Reptiles are vertebrates who have a skeleton and
breathe with lungs. The reptile family includes
creatures like snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians,
and even dinosaurs!
BL
Arthur Balitskii/Shutterstock.com
Mammals
Mammals are a large group of animals with
common traits. People, dogs, cats, and other furry
creatures on Earth are mammals. Mammals need
food, water, and shelter to live. Without these
things, they will not be able to survive or have
babies.
Most mammals have fur and are warm-blooded.
This means they keep their body temperatures at
safe levels. Mammal babies are born alive and
drink milk from their mothers. There are two
mammals that lay eggs–the platypus and the
echidna! Mammals breathe using lungs and have a
skeleton. They are known as vertebrates because
they have a backbone.
HappyPictures/Shutterstock.com
Reptiles
Reptiles are a group of animals with the same
traits. Reptiles need food, water and shelter, but
they also need special things to live.
Reptiles have dry, scaly skin and are cold-blooded.
This means they depend on their environment to
control their body temperature. If the temperature
is too cold, a reptile cannot survive. Reptile babies
hatch from eggs and live without their parents
after they are born. Reptiles are vertebrates who
have a skeleton and breathe with lungs. The reptile
family includes animals like snakes, lizards, turtles,
crocodiles, and even dinosaurs!
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

Sentence frames for describing similarities:
Mammals and reptiles both have __________.
Both reptiles and mammals are __________.
Mammals and reptiles are the same because __________.
Mammals and reptiles are alike because __________.
Reptiles are similar to mammals because __________.
Sentence frames for describing differences:
Mammals have __________, but __________don’t have
__________.
Reptiles are __________, but mammals are not __________.
Mammals and reptiles are different because __________.
Mammals and reptiles are not alike because __________.

Use the sentence frames, or your own ideas to write a paragraph discussing the similarities and
differences between mammals and reptiles.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

Cut apart the phrases about mammals and reptiles. Sort and glue them in the correct column.

Mammals Both Reptiles

most animals are give birth to live

warm-blooded cold-blooded dry, scaly skin
covered in fur young

all animals lay breathe using need warm places need food, water,
vertebrates
eggs lungs to live and shelter