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Book 33, Question 3 · Video

What are the three big groups of mammals?

Video · 1:50 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 33

Mammals fall into three groups. The first group lays eggs: the platypus and the echidnas. The second group, the marsupials, give birth to tiny babies that finish growing in a pouch or on the mother’s belly, like kangaroos and koalas. The third group, the placental mammals, grow inside the mother until they are more developed. Most mammals, including dogs, cats, and people, belong to this last group.

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are the three big groups of mammals?

The Big Idea

There are thousands of kinds of mammals. But they fit into just three groups! What are they?

Egg Layers

Step one: Egg Layers. The first group lays eggs. It includes the platypus and the echidnas, which hatch from soft, leathery eggs before drinking milk.

Marsupials

Step two: Marsupials. The second group, the marsupials, give birth to tiny babies. The babies finish growing in a pouch or on the mother's belly, like kangaroos and koalas, drinking milk the whole time.

Placental Mammals

Step three: Placental Mammals. The third group, the placental mammals, grow inside the mother until they're more developed. Most mammals, including dogs, cats, and people, belong to this last group.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Lay eggs. Pouches. Most mammals. Placental.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Only five kinds of mammals lay eggs. Kangaroos have pouches. Dogs are placental mammals. People are placental mammals too.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw three boxes. Label them lays eggs, pouch, and placenta. Place a picture of a platypus in the right box. Then a kangaroo. Then a dog.

Outro

Mammals fall into three groups: egg layers like the platypus and echidnas, marsupials like kangaroos whose tiny babies grow in a pouch, and placental mammals like dogs, cats, and people. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

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