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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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M
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Mammal
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-04
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A Mammal is a warm blooded animal of the
class Mammalia, the highest class of
VERTEBRATE, found in terrestrial and aquatic
habitats. The female has mammary glands,
which secrete milk for the nourishment of the
young after birth. In most mammals the body
is patially or wholly covered with hair, the
heart has four chambers, and a muscular
diaphragm seperates the chest from the
abdominal cavity. Exept for the egg-laying
MONOTREME (eg: platypus), mammals give birth
to live young. In some MARSUPIAL and higher
mammals the young receive prenatal
nourishment through a placenta. Terrestrial
mammals include carnivores (eg: CAT, DOG,
bear) rodents (eg: beaver, squirrel) hoofed
animals (eg: horse, rhinoseros, deer, swine,
cattle) primates (eg: human being, monkey,
lemur) and others, such as the bat and
elephant. Aquatic mammals include the
carnivorous seal and walrus and the
omnivorous whale and dolphin.
Subject by: Vince Pike