Mammals

Mammals are one of the largest classes of vertebrate animals. At Potter Park Zoo we are home to many different members of the mammal class, who comprise the largest portion of our collection.

From the massive blue whales of the oceans to the tiny tenrecs living at Potter Park Zoo, mammals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. However, there are two things that all mammals have in common, they have hair and produce milk to nourish their young! They are also warm-blooded, or endothermic.  This means they generate their own body heat through metabolism, keeping them warmer than their surroundings. Mammals occupy all continents and can live on land, below ground, in trees, in the air and in fresh or salt water. Humans are members of the mammal family.