Can you tell a mammal from...something else?

40% of students tested couldn't!  Let's see if you can.


Just remember that mammals usually:
- suckle their young
- possess hair or fur
- breathe air


Check out the animals below...how many are mammals?

Last post's answers from Can you tell a pangolin from a pillbug?: pangolin (vertebrate), armadillo lizard (vertebrate), pillbug (invertebrate), armadillo (vertebrate).

Can you tell a mammal from...something else?

40% of students tested couldn't!  Let's see if you can.


Just remember that mammals usually:
- suckle their young
- possess hair or fur
- breathe air


Check out the animals below...how many are mammals?

Last post's answers from Can you tell a pangolin from a pillbug?: pangolin (vertebrate), armadillo lizard (vertebrate), pillbug (invertebrate), armadillo (vertebrate).

Can you tell a pangolin from a pillbug?

A lot of people can't. 


Actually, 41% of students tested couldn't distinguish animals with backbones (vertebrates) from animals without backbones (invertebrates).


Vertebrates include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds.


Invertebrates are such creatures as insects, crabs, jellyfish, and worms.


An easy way to think about it is this: imagine what would be left if an animal died:
- skeleton of bones?  (vertebrate)     or
- shell, husk, slime, or nothing?  (invertebrate)


Check out the sheet below. How many of these creatures are vertebrates and how many invertebrates?

And, can you name each creature?

Next post, find the answers and read about another trouble spot for students in animal identification...and see how good you are!

Can you tell a pangolin from a pillbug?

A lot of people can't. 


Actually, 41% of students tested couldn't distinguish animals with backbones (vertebrates) from animals without backbones (invertebrates).


Vertebrates include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds.


Invertebrates are such creatures as insects, crabs, jellyfish, and worms.


An easy way to think about it is this: imagine what would be left if an animal died:
- skeleton of bones?  (vertebrate)     or
- shell, husk, slime, or nothing?  (invertebrate)


Check out the sheet below. How many of these creatures are vertebrates and how many invertebrates?

And, can you name each creature?

Next post, find the answers and read about another trouble spot for students in animal identification...and see how good you are!

For fun...skunks can be beautiful

So why skunks? They are pretty easy to identify, thanks to Bambi's friend Flower. And they are pretty easy to smell, too. But they have lovely coat patterns that are worth seeing.


Asia has its own skunks, called stink badgers. It's now thought that these aren't badgers at all, but skunks...though who knows what they'll be classified as tomorrow? So I have included them on our skunk sheet.


Not included is a skunk that was being cared for at Wildlife Waystation in California, where I worked for awhile. That skunk was, believe it or not, white with black stripes!  Wish I had a picture of him to include.


So enjoy the skunks; they are beautiful, too!


And yesterday's creature was a leucistic raccoon...only one respondent figured it out. Congratulations, Eliza.

For fun...skunks can be beautiful

So why skunks? They are pretty easy to identify, thanks to Bambi's friend Flower. And they are pretty easy to smell, too. But they have lovely coat patterns that are worth seeing.


Asia has its own skunks, called stink badgers. It's now thought that these aren't badgers at all, but skunks...though who knows what they'll be classified as tomorrow? So I have included them on our skunk sheet.


Not included is a skunk that was being cared for at Wildlife Waystation in California, where I worked for awhile. That skunk was, believe it or not, white with black stripes!  Wish I had a picture of him to include.


So enjoy the skunks; they are beautiful, too!


And yesterday's creature was a leucistic raccoon...only one respondent figured it out. Congratulations, Eliza.

What is this creature?

This animal stumped my daughter...she had no idea. Do you? If you think you know what it is, leave a comment on this post!