Mammal Research
Name:_______________________________
Date:___________________ Period:______
One of our big questions that this unit is built around asks the question of why some animals are able to
live and survive in certain environments, but not others. This leads to an understanding of the different
ways that animals have adapted to their environment. By comparing mammals that live in different
environments we can learn about the processes that all animals go through which are similar or
different. We will be focusing on mammals for this short research project. After being assigned a
Class within the Order Mammalia order you will select the mammal species that you will use to answer
the following questions and to draw a picture of this mammal. Note your organism will be in the:
Kingdom Animalia, or “animal” , Phylum Chordata, or “has a backbone” , Class Mammalia, or “has a
backbone and nurses its young”. You may answer the questions and draw the picture on this page. If
you need more room use another paper.
1. King Philip Came Over For Grape Soda is the mnemonic that stands for?
2. The classification system assigns scientific names to organisms using binomial nomenclature with the
Genus species name. What is the scientific name of your organism?
3. The four basic needs of organisms are food, water, air, and shelter a place to live. Describe how
your mammal provides for these basic needs:
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What are the foods eaten:
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How is water obtained:
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Where is home:
4. Identify at least three adaptations that allow this mammal to survive and reproduce.
5. We are not an island alone in this world neither is your mammal. Describe any symbiotic
relationships that your mammal has with another life form.
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Symbiosis is a kind of partnership between two organisms in nature.
Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed.
Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed.