What are Mammals?

• Mammals are differentiated from reptiles and birds by the possession of 
• Hair (Normal hair that you all know)
• Three middle ear bones (Auditory Ossicles - Malleus, Incus and Stapes)
• Mammary Glands
• Neocortex (a region of the brain - no image of this). 



Three Middle Ear Bone
Image Source: Wikipedia

• 

  Mammary Gland of Human
  Image Source: Wikipedia

• The mammalian brain regulates body temperature and the circulatory system including the four-chambered heart.
• All Female mammals nurse their young with milk, which is secreted from special glands, the mammary glands
• Largest Mammal: Blue Whale
• Except for the five species of monotremes (egg-laying mammals), all modern mammals give birth to live young ones. 
• Five species are - Platypus and four species of Echidnas
• All species indigenous to Australia and New Guinea

• 

  Platypus
  Image Source: Wikipedia

  
  

  Echidnas
  Image Source: Wikipedia

Mammals in danger! - as per IUCN Red List data

Source: Times of India