Groups of Animals

One way to learn about the millions of animals in the world is to put them in groups. By looking at animals in groups, we can see interesting points that are the same or are different about animals. In this way, we can say that some animals belong to certain groups. People belong to a group that includes dogs, bears, horses, and monkeys. Animals in this group all have hair. Babies come out of their mothers, not out of eggs. And babies in this group of animals drink milk from their mother. Birds are another group of animals. Not all birds can fly, but all birds lay eggs. Baby birds come out of eggs, and their mothers give them food and care for them. Some animals eat plants, some eat other animals, and some eat both. Many that eat plants eat only one kind of plant, or one part of a plant. In this way, different kinds of plant-eating animals can live together in the same place and have enough food. Animals come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Their bodies help them get food and keep them safe from other animals that want to eat them. Many birds have very good eyes. When they are flying, they can see fish in the water and small animals on the ground. Dogs have great noses and ears. They can smell and hear things that are far away. Bears are very strong. They can kill fish and other animals with their arms. Small animals have ways to protect themselves from bigger ones. Their bodies, for example, might be the same color as the ground around them. This makes them hard to see. Also, some animals can make their bodies look bigger and stronger than they really are. Then other animals do not want to eat them.