Word: mammal

Associations

Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have hair or fur and typically give birth to live young and produce milk to feed them. They are one of the main groups of animals on Earth.

• Examples of mammals include dogs, cats, and humans. All these animals have fur or hair and feed their young with milk after birth.
• Whales are also mammals. Even though they live in water, they breathe air and nurse their babies with milk like all mammals do.
• Bats are interesting mammals because they can fly. They rely on the same characteristics of mammals while also having wings.

Synonym: "Animal" could be a synonym, but it is much broader. An "animal" includes all categories, like reptiles, birds, and more, while "mammal" specifically refers only to this particular type.

Substitution

You can use some alternatives like "creature," "species," or "beast," but each word has different meanings:

• "Creature" is a general term for any living being, not limited to animals.
• "Species" refers to a specific group of living organisms that can breed together.
• "Beast" often implies a larger or more fierce animal, usually not used for pets or smaller animals.

Deconstruction

The word "mammal" comes from the Latin word "mamma," which means "breast." This reflects the important characteristic of mammals—they feed their young with milk from their bodies. There are no prefixes or suffixes in "mammal," and it has roots in languages that describe nursing.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a mammal that lives in your area? How do they exhibit typical mammalian traits?
• Why do you think the ability to nurse their young is important for mammals?
• How do mammals differ from other animal groups you know about, such as birds or reptiles?