You know six animal groups now: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Let's be animal detectives and sort them all, using body clues.
| Group | Body clue |
|---|---|
| Mammals | hair or fur; milk for babies |
| Birds | feathers and a beak |
| Fish | gills and fins |
| Reptiles | dry, scaly skin |
| Amphibians | smooth, moist skin |
| Insects | six legs, three body parts |
Key idea
To sort an animal, look for its body clue: fur, feathers, gills and fins, dry scales, moist skin, or six legs.
Why it works
Where an animal lives and how it moves can fool you. Whales, sharks and penguins all swim. Bats, bees and robins all fly. Their bodies are different, and the body decides the group.
Worked example: Let's think it through
This animal flies at night. It has fur and feeds its babies milk. What group is it in?
- Flying is not the clue.
- Fur and milk are the mammal clues.
- It is a bat.
Answer: Mammals.
Common mistake
Children often sort by home or movement: everything in water is a fish, everything that flies is a bird. Use the body clues instead.
For the grown-up. Play "twenty questions" with animals, but only allow body-clue questions: "Does it have feathers? Does it have six legs?"