8.08 Safari Quest Six—Mammals

Hello and welcome to the Land Down Under! I'm Matilda Nawia, and I will be your guide while you're here in Australia. I'm from the Yidinji people of Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland. There are many tribes of aboriginal people in Australia; mine is one of many. Atherton Tableland is an ecological area called Wet Tropics and is one of the most important rainforest areas in the world. This continent is vast, and you'll travel far to see varied ecosystems with varied animal life.

You will conduct your final Safari Quest here—the quest for mammals. I understand that you have come from the Galapagos Islands where unique species of birds and reptiles are abundant.

Well, I think you'll find the continent of Australia abounds with some pretty unique mammal species. One of my home area's unique mammals is the Tree Kangaroo, or Mabi as my people call it.

In this activity, you will: distinguish the characteristics of mammals from other animals compare the nervous system of mammals to other classes of animals The Honors student will: evaluate the use of product testing on animals

Let the Quest Begin

To get started, open, save (as an .rtf), and print the Mammal Field Guide.

• You will complete this Mammal Field Guide and submit it as a page to be included in a field guide that BioVentures Unlimited is preparing for its tour guests.
• Make sure to look it over carefully before you get started.
• You can complete some information along the way as you explore.
• You will want to wait on some information until you've selected the mammal for your field guide.

So, What Is a Mammal?

If you own a dog or a cat, they're mammals. Whales and lions are mammals. Duck-billed platypuses, although they're a little weird, are mammals too. Maybe you'll see one on this quest.

As a way of discovering just what kinds of animals belong to class Mammalia, watch these two short video clips.

Add these four questions to your Travel Log and seek the answers as you view the clips! Notes Page

• Name two unique characteristics of mammals.
• Describe two functions of hair.
• What characteristics make the duck-billed platypus a unique mammal?
• What do we call the pouched mammals? Name a few examples?

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You know, as we get started, and I am thinking about it, I just wanted to mention one thing—we could end our quest right now and look no further for our mammal. Why? Well, because the world's most unique mammal is right here. You're a mammal. I'm a mammal. The human species is considered a mammal and if you ask me, we are pretty special! Feel free to include the human as your mammal if you wish! However, since you've come all this way, it would be silly not to show you some of Australia's mammals.

If you are ready to trek on, move to the BioVenture tab to continue this Safari Quest.