Mammals

We have been busy learning all about mammals during Science. Some of us used our laptops to present our projects!

                                      The Otter

The Otter lives along riverbanks and beside lakes all around Ireland. It is protected under the Wildlife Act of 1976. It can be up to 1 metre in length and when they are fully grown they can weigh about 10kgs. Otters have long, slim bodies with short legs and webbed paws. Otters have a layer of brown or grey fur which insulates their bodies and then a covering of hair to protect the fur. It belongs to the same family as the stoat, pine marten, weasel and badger. They are nocturnal animals which means they hunt at night. The otter is a carnivore and it eats fish, birds, small mammals, insects and shellfish. The Otter builds a holt to live in, sometimes several. The entrance to a holt is under water so the occupants are safe from their enemies. The Otter breeds once each year. The female gives birth to her babies during the summer. A young otter is called a cub or a pup. They are blind when they are born. The pups/cubs stay in the holt for about eight weeks before they learn to swim.

By Ian Lalor

Platypus

PLATYPUSES ARE USUALY IN THE BACKROUND OF THINGS. MOST PEOPLE DON’T TAKE MUCH NOTICE TO THE PLATYPUS TODAY, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS COULD CHANGE THAT!

Platypuses are semi aquatic mammals and are found in eastern Australia. They are the only mammal to lay eggs. They are duck billed flat tailed and otter footed, it as a broad body It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypuses have a spur on there hind foot that delivers venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. Until the early 20^th century the platypus was hunted for is fur, but is now protected through its range.  

Troy