Putting Animals Into Groups

Can you pick out the birds in this picture?

Animals with backbones

Similar animals can be grouped together.

The five main groups of animals are.

1. Birds
2. Fishes
3. Amphibians
4. Reptiles
5. Mammals

Birds

• All birds have feathers, a beak and two legs.
• Birds are warm-blooded.
• Some birds cannot fly.
• Most birds also have streamlined bodies and hollow bones to help them fly.

Fishes

• Most fishes have gills, fins and scales.
• Fishes are cold-blooded.
• They breathe through gills.
• The scales protect the fish and enable it to swim smoothly through the water.
• The fins help the fish to swim and maintain balance in water.

Amphibians

• Amphibians can live both on land and in water.
• Amphibians are cold-bloded.
• The young breathe through gills and the adults breathe through lungs or skin.

Reptiles

• Reptiles, except snakes, have four legs and a tail.
• Reptiles are cold-blooded animals.
• All reptiles breathe through their lungs.
• They have dry and scaly skin.

Mammals

• Most mammals are covered with hair.
• Mammals are warm-blooded animals.
• Mammals breathe through their lungs.
• Most mammals give birth to live young.
• Female mammals produce milk to feed their young.

Can you now look for animals around your home or at the zoo that you can place in these groups?