What are mammals?

Mammals are animals that have hair or fur, give birth to live babies (most of them), and feed their young with milk from their bodies.

Imagine you have a soft, cozy blanket, that’s like the hair or fur mammals have all over their body. It keeps them warm, just like your blanket keeps you warm on a chilly night.

Most mammals don’t lay eggs like birds or turtles. Instead, they carry their babies inside their bodies and give birth to them. Think of it like having a little friend growing up inside you, that’s what happens with most mammals!

Also, once those babies are born, the mom mammal gives them special food called milk, which helps them grow strong and healthy.

You’re probably already familiar with some mammals! Your pet dog or cat is a mammal. Even you, yes, you, are a mammal too! We all have hair (or maybe not much of it), we give birth to live babies, and we drink milk when we're little.

So remember: hair, live babies, and milk, that’s what makes mammals special!