Select the one animal that has all of the mammal traits listed above.
Canadian lynx have furry, padded feet that help them walk on snow. Canadian lynx feed their offspring milk. Common snapping turtles hatch from eggs with shells. They have powerful beaks. When a snapping turtle is threatened by a predator, it snaps its beak! Snapping turtles have scaly, waterproof skin.
Mammals are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify mammals:
They feed their offspring milk.
They have fur or hair. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.
Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live.
How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.
To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group.
Mammals have the following traits:
They feed their offspring milk.
They have fur or hair.
Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits.
A common snapping turtle has the following traits:
It has scaly, waterproof skin.
It makes eggs with shells.
A common snapping turtle does not have all of the traits of a mammal. A common snapping turtle is a reptile.
A Canadian lynx has the following traits:
It feeds its offspring milk.
It has fur.
A Canadian lynx has the traits of a mammal. A Canadian lynx is a mammal.