Introduction:

Congratulations!! You have just been named head zoologist at the Philadelphia Zoo. As you know the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the United States. The zoo has been in existence for over 150 years. You have been hired to ensure that the zoo lasts for another 150 years. This is a unique opportunity for you. Each year you will be asked to bring one new animal to the zoo. This year you will choose a mammal. Now you must choose which mammal you and your team will add to the zoo’s exhibits. Good luck!

What Is a Mammal? Humans are mammals. The word mammal comes from the Latin mammal, meaning breast, because female mammals produce milk to nurse their babies. Nearly all mammals give birth to live young, and all are warm-blooded, maintaining a near-constant body temperature regardless of environmental conditions. They are vertebrates and use lungs to breathe air and are the only animals that grow hair. Mammals probably appeared on Earth some 200 million years ago. Mammals come in all sizes, shapes and colors. They’re in the sky, in the water and on the ground. Come and visit the wonderful world of mammals.