Bonus: Penguins Aren't Amphibians
Some creatures are harder to classify than others...
Creatures come in all shapes and sizes, but there is still order to all this wonderful abundance of life. Among the creatures of the world, we see amphibians like frogs, reptiles like snakes, mammals like dogs, fish like salmon, and birds like flamingos. By looking at the way an animal is made, we can put them into the right category. But, some creatures are harder to classify than others...
Amphibians are animals that live their lives both in and out of water. Some will spend their whole lives in the water, while others will spend some (or nearly all) of their time on land.
Penguins live their lives both in the water and out of the water, so penguins must be amphibians, right?
No! Penguins are birds not amphibians! Amphibians have smooth skin that allows them to breathe under water, while penguins have the feathers of a bird and have to breathe air.
Mammals are creatures that give birth to live babies. The parents usually care for their babies both before and after they are born.
Seahorses give birth to live babies that they care for before they are born, so they must be mammals, right?
No! Seahorses are fish not mammals! Mammals have hair, while seahorses are covered with the hard scales of a fish.
Most reptiles lay eggs, and the mothers often protect those eggs from predators.
Platypuses lay eggs and stay with them until they hatch, so they must be reptiles, right?
No! Platypuses are mammals not reptiles! Reptiles have rough, dry skin and can’t control their body temperature, while platypuses have fur and can control their body temperature.
Birds can fly through the air – sometimes traveling extraordinary distances. Many types of birds eat insects and fruit.
Bats can fly through the air and often eat insects and fruit, so they must be birds, right?
No! Bats are mammals not birds! Birds have feathers to help them fly, while bats use skin covered wings.
Fish spend their entire lives under water, but some species are seen near the surface or even jumping out of the water.
Dolphins spend their whole lives in the water except when they come to the surface and splash around, so they must be fish, right?
No! Dolphins are mammals not fish! Fish breathe from water through their gills, while dolphins have to breathe air.
