Why are giraffes and whales mammals?

Answer 1

Giraffes are classed as mammals. They are not related to retiles in any way.

They are classed as mammals because they are vertebrates (They have a backbone, or spine), they are endothermic (this is sometimes called "warm blooded", and basically means they regulate their own boy temperature by using internal mechanisms, like sweating and panting), they have hair on their bodies, and they produce milk to feed their young, as well as giving birth to live young.

Reptiles on the other hand are completely different. They are Ectotherm (this is what's known as "cold blooded" and means they use external means, such as basking the sun to warm up, or hiding in the shade to cool down), they have scales instead of hair, and they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young, and do not produce milk for them, as hatchlings do not need it.

Answer 2

A giraffe is mammal because:

• They are warm blooded
• They have live babies (does not apply to all mammals)
• They live on milk while they are young

Answer 3

It is warm blooded, gives live birth, it is a vertebrate, it has lungs to breathe air, and feeds milk to its babies.

Answer 4

Because they both have the agreed features that mammals have. They breathe with lungs, give birth to live young, the young suckle milk from their mothers, they're warm blooded.

Answer 5

Because they have the characteristics that mammals have. They breathe with lungs, give birth to live young, the young suckle milk from their mothers, they're warm blooded.

Answer 6

'cause that's how it evolved over millions of years :P