Ten facts about all mammals:

· Specialized teeth- for biting, cutting, sawing
· Single jawbone- chewing food
· 4 chambered heart- more efficient pumping of blood for circulatory system
· Diaphragm- muscle below rib cage to help get air to the lungs
· Hair- insulation
· Mammary glands- sweat glands
· Endothermy- controls metabolism and body temperature
· Produce milk- nutrients for young
· Reproduce either momotremes (egg with shell), marsupials ( held in pouch after birth), placental ( natural birth)
· All have a skull- protects the brain

Anatomy Terms

1. Diaphragm: A sheet of muscle and tendon that separates the body cavity into two sections and is found below the rib cage. Contraction of the diaphragm during inhalation helps draw air into the lungs.
2. Heterodontic: A mammal has different sets of teeth that are different shapes. There are incisors, canines, molars, and premolars.
Incisors: In herbivors and omnivores these teeth are used for shearing sharply and in carnivores they are used for biting off meat.
Canines: These teeth are found in omnivores and carnivores and are used mostly for holding and tearing food.
Molars: In mammals these teeth grind food. They vary from species to species so there is no clear, specific description used for them.
3.Vertebrae: These are the segments that make up a mammals spine. The number of vertebrae varies across species, especially when the spine is longer and forms a tail. All animals have seven cervical or neck vertebrae though.
4.Clavicle: Or the collar bone that some mammals have. This structure supports the arm limbs on most two legged mammals. It is usually absent in the four legged variety.
5. Mammary Glands: Is the organ in female mammals that produces milk for their offspring. It is an exocrine gland that is an enlarged and modified sweat gland.
6. Buccal Cavity: The cavity between the jaws and the cheeks where food is taken in.

Internal Anatomy Picture of Cat* :
external image internal-organs.gif&t=1
Cat Skeletal System*:
external image skeleton.jpg
Cat Muscular System*:
external image feline-anatomy-muscles.jpg

Wisconsin Mammals

There are many, many kinds of mammals that live here in Wisconsin but these are a few of the most common around the Northwoods area:
1. Whitetail Deer*external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQpIHi8JUnVDNKMnG3lexSDiv1mah1UgyATBIjv0WsHQcaOYFQd
2. Chipmunk* external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdVR5Wn066GbO6YuIwEaNJCiEdKzTyjCik9QoupFlUUoDaWbnn2g
3. Badger* external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC5cLI-BdEDOWSSuLwK5bv5IkzNqetcuqnPygOF07017W6wR32gQ
4. Black Bear* external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5RvPqmK4iOCCWTJn6X-lrJSjhO5Wi70FOjMt5eNNOZjfb0d5W_g
5. Little Brown Bat*external image LittleBrownBat.jpg


Intersting Facts:

1. the largest mammal is the blue whale
2. The smallest mammal is the bumble bee bat
3. The giraffe has the highest blood pressure of any animal
4. Zebras can't see the color orange
5. A rat can go without water longer than a cammel can
5. Cows only sweat glands are in it's nose
7. Bats hang upside down because they can't stand upright
8. There are more than 50 different kinds of kangaroos
9. Reindeer eat moss to stay warm


Sources:

http://www.indianchild.com/amazing_facts2.htm
http://www.berro.com/entertainment/animals_interesting_facts.htm
http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/mammal.html
www.sciencenaturally.com
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-mammals.html