Mammals

Scientifically-speaking there are 11 mammal groups, and most Mammals are warm-blooded, have body hair, give live birth and nurse their young with milk from mammary glands. Check out these articles about all kinds of mammals.

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How do a zebra's stripes act as camouflage?

I've heard that the black and white stripes on a zebra provide camouflage. How can this be if they're not in a black-and-white environment?

Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

How Polar Bears Work

The polar bear's shocking whiteness, ferocity and sheer size make it an icon of purity and power. How do these animals survive in a frigid climate?

By Julia Layton Mammals / Bears

What's the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo?

If you want to determine whether you've got your hands on a wallaby or a kangaroo, you're going to have to pry open the animal's mouth and examine its molars.

By Jennifer Horton Mammals / Marsupials

How Walruses Work

Each year, thousands of male Pacific walruses pack the beaches of Round Island off the coast of Alaska. Is there a reason for this months-long male bonding?

By Jennifer Horton Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

Why is the birth rate so low for giant pandas?

Since 1990, there have been only five panda cubs born in the United States. This may seem a little low. Getting pandas to mate in captivity is extremely difficult. Why is the birth rate for giant pandas so low? Find out the answer in this article.

By Tracy V. Wilson Mammals / Bears

How Fainting Goats Work

Fainting goats don't really faint -- their muscles tense up and they fall over when they get scared. But why would anyone want a fainting goat?

By Robert Lamb Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

13 Incredible Bat Facts

Contrary to popular belief, bats don't go around biting people and sucking blood. Bats got a bad reputation from the Dracula stories, but they actually prefer eating insects over blood. Find 13 incredible bat facts only at HowStuffWorks.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. Mammals / Bats

How and why do bats hang upside down all day?

Bats are often found sleeping upside down during the day. They roost in secluded areas such as hollowed out trees and caves. Have you ever wondered why bats sleep upside down? Find out the answer to this question in this HowStuffWorks article.

Mammals / Bats

Is there a difference between monkeys and apes?

Monkeys and apes have lots of similarities, but they're not the same animal. In a lot of ways, it all comes down to the tail.

Mammals / Primates

Are chimpanzees evolving in the wild?

Until now, no one has documented a definite case of chimpanzees using tools to hunt in the traditional sense. Find out what a new study on chimpanzees may reveal about human evolution.

By Julia Layton Mammals / Primates

Why do humans walk on two legs?

Did you know you conserve energy every time you walk across a room? You do, in evolutionary terms at least. Find out how and why humans began walking upright and what this has to do with our body's energy use.

By Jacob Silverman Mammals / Primates

Do cows pollute as much as cars?

Cow flatulence produces the greenhouse gas methane, which is linked to global warming. Find out how scientists are working to reduce cow flatulence in livestock.

By Jacob Silverman Mammals / Hoofed Mammals

How can whale vomit help me retire?

If you're wandering through a thrift store and happen upon a large mass of some sort of waxy substance, take a closer look. It could be the rare "floating gold" of the sea: whale vomit. Find out whether cetacean upchuck can help you retire.

By Julia Layton Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

How Whales Work

Despite their monumental proportions, the most phenomenal thing about whales isn't how big they are: It's the way they live. Whales are mammals -- warm-blooded, air-breathing creatures -- but they spend their entire life in the ocean. Find out about these awe-inspiring creatures.

By Tom Harris Mammals / Aquatic Mammals

How Bats Work

Think you know what bats are all about? Chances are you're operating under at least a couple of misconceptions. Sort out the facts from the myths and see what makes bats so unique.

By Tom Harris Mammals / Bats