Why do mammals have lips and cheeks?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do mammals have lips and cheeks?

The Big Idea

Lips and cheeks seem ordinary. But they're special mammal features! Why do mammals have them?

Sucking Milk

Step one: Sucking Milk. A newborn mammal needs to suck milk. Strong lips close around the mother's nipple, and cheek muscles help make suction, like drinking through a straw.

Different Feeders

Step two: Different Feeders. Reptiles and birds don't drink milk this way. Even egg-laying mammals, like the echidna, lick up their milk instead, because their babies don't suck.

More Jobs

Step three: More Jobs. Lips and cheeks also help mammals chew, hold food, and make some sounds. Your lips started as a feeding tool, long before you used them to whistle or smile.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Seal. Suction. Sucked. Shaped.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Echidnas lick up their milk instead of sucking. Sucking works like a straw. Lips help us chew. Lips shape sounds.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Drink water through a straw. Then try with the straw loose between your lips. Notice the difference. Lips help you make suction. Wipe up any drips.

Outro

Mammal lips and cheeks help newborns suck milk, making suction like a straw. Reptiles and birds don't feed this way. Lips and cheeks also help mammals chew, hold food, and make sounds. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!