Birds and Mammals
Graphic Organizer Notes
Mr. Littlejohn
Birds
Characteristics – birds have some characteristics with reptiles including the amniotic egg, the legs and feet of birds are dry and covered with scales. Birds also have some characteristics that are found only on birds. We will look at these:
Feathers – 1) Down feathers keep birds warm, 2) Contour feathers – have a stiff shaft and many side branches and used for flight in the birds that can fly.
Preening Feathers – the act of grooming and maintaining their feathers.
Molting – the shedding of an exoskeleton (insects, crustaceans), skin (snakes), and feathers (BIRDS) and replaced with new.
Energy requirements – birds use a lot of energy and must take in many calories to maintain homeostasis. Many birds feed the majority of the day. Birds have a gizzard that grinds their food. They have a “crop” that stores food material until the gizzard can grind it. They use a lot of energy so digestion MUST BE FAST.
Temperature – with such a high metabolism, their body temperature is fairly high.
Flight – birds can fly. They have a rapid beating heart to supply their body with blood. Their lungs are modified to maintain good levels of oxygen for their blood. They have light bones for flight.
Care for Offspring – Birds care for their young until they are old enough to search for food and fly on their own. Birds sit on their eggs “called brooding” and incubate them until they hatch and then provide food for the young. Precocial – birds that hatch with feathers and can follow parents around to feed, they only need parents for warmth if necessary. Altricial – when these birds hatch they hove no feathers and are weak, eyes are closed and cannot walk or fly, their parent(s) must feed them for several weeks before they can survive on their own.
Unique Birds “Flightless” – A few species of birds can not fly. These include the penguin, kiwi, and the ostrich. These birds do not have the wings required for flight given the size of their body. These birds have small wings compared to their body size.
Waterbirds – Called waterfowl. These include ducks, geese, cranes, herons, and shore birds you may be familiar with.
Birds of Prey – these birds are the “hunters of the sky”, they are carnivores. Examples include hawks, falcons, owls, and eagles.
Perching birds – these include the birds that are most often seen perching in trees and bushes. Examples: Chickadee, parrot, sparrows, blue jays, scarlet tanagers and other songbirds.
Mammals
Origin – scientists think mammals evolved from therapsids, which were ancient reptiles.
Mammal Characteristics:
Mammary glands – these function to secrete nutritious milk for the offspring of mammals. It is high in fat content, water, protein and sugars for the young to feed on.
Endotherms – mammals are warm-blooded. They carry out cellular respiration and this generates heat that helps maintain a constant body temperature.
Teeth – mammals have teeth that include teeth of special uses. Incisors cut, canines hold, molars grind.
Lungs – mammals have lungs that function when the diaphragm contracts and relaxes. When the diaphragm contracts, mammals inhale (take in air). When it relaxes, they exhale (release air in the form of carbon dioxide and water).
Parenting – mammals also take care of their young and nurture their young. Mammals also teach needed information to their young so their young have a higher chance for survival
Mammals Types
Monotremes – egg layers. These include the echidnas and duckbilled platypus.
Marsupials – mammals with pouches for their young to grow and develop. Mammals like the kangaroo and the opossum.
Placental Mammals – mammals that form a placenta within the uterus to nurture the growing and developing embryo within the female. The embryo develops in the mothers uterus and is born after proper development have occurred. Different mammals have different developmental times. Example: humans require 9 months for proper embryo development before birth is given. Elephants require 23 months, some mammals may only require a month or two for full embryo development.
Types of Placental Mammals
Toothless – anteaters and armadillos do not have teeth. They feed on small insects and grubs.
Insect Eaters- called insectivores. Examples include shrews and moles that feed on insects and insect larvae under the surface of the ground.
Rodents – examples: rats, mice, squirrels, muskrats, beavers, nutria and capybaras. These animals must chew on things to keep their teeth wore down. If they did not chew on items, their incisors would constantly grow and eventually grow long enough to impale their body and kill the animal.
Lagamorphs – these mammals have 2 sets of incisors. They must also chew on items to maintain their incisor length like rodents. Examples include rabbits and hares.
Flying mammals – These include bats. They locate their food with a sonar type adaptation. They make clicking noises and when the sound waves strike an object the waves are deflected and the bats know how far away the object is based on how long it takes for the sound waves to return.
Carnivores – meat eaters. Examples – wolves, coyotes, cats, raccoons, weasels, mink, bears, and hyenas to mention some.
Hoofed mammals – mammals with hoofed feet. These include giraffes, cows, deer, camels, bison, and zebras to name some of them.
Trunk-Nosed Mammals – Example: Elephants. They have the capability to use their trunk like a “hand”.
Cetaceans – This group of mammals includes the dolphins and porpoises. These mammals live in the oceans, but they must come to the surface to breathe and get oxygen.
Sirenia – These are the smallest group of water dwelling mammals. The example is the manatee.
Primates – Includes monkeys, apes, humans and orangutan. These mammals can walk upright and they have 5 toes and fingers. They also have the “intelligence” to make tools. Humans are the most complex and show the most intelligence most of the time.
Youmust nowgo through this organizer and make drawings for a better understanding of the birds and mammals.