//------------------------------// // Mammals // Story: Fluttershy's Animal Classes // by Majestical4729 //------------------------------// Fluttershy and Discord then visited the former's sanctuary, with the former greeting the animals,"Hello every creature, as you can see, I brought Discord here today because I'll be teaching him about animal classes with your help. Can you please group yourselves according to your animal classes? It will really help us out." The animals did as told with mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and arachnids from left to right. The fishes remained in the steam nearby, as they could never leave the water. "Thank you," Fluttershy thanked the animals, then turned to Discord, "Alright Discord, do you see the group on the very left?" "What an absurd question, of course I can see the group of animals on the very left," Discord responded. "The animals in this group are all from the animal class mammals, and Mammalia is the scientific name of the class. Mammals are warm-blooded, their body temperature remains about the same their entire lives." Fluttershy explained. "Stays the same for their entire lives?!" Discord asked, "That's a bit boring, isn't it?" "Mammals are naturally that way," Fluttershy responded, "There's more to them than just that. All mammals have hair, even dolphins and whales that live in the ocean." "Even dolphins and whales that live in the ocean..." Discord said what he was writing in a notebook that he had conjured up out loud. "Continue if you please," Discord politely told Fluttershy. "Most mammals give birth to young alive, but there are two exceptions; the spiny anteater and the duckbilled platypus lay eggs that hatch into their young." Fluttershy explained. "At last something interesting about mammals," Discord commented, "I mean, can you imagine all of them being the same in everything about them? How boring and meaningless will that be?!" the mammals of the sanctuary were getting offended by Discord's words, before Fluttershy told Discord, "Discord, can you please stop commenting and just focus on learning? Your comments are not making the animals here comfortable." "If you say so, dear Fluttershy." Discord quickly responded. "Most mammals are helpless when they are babies. Adult mammals protect and help care for babies until they can survive on their own. The mammal most famous for caring for their babies is the mother kangaroo who carries their babies in their pouch until they are about one year old. Mammals like mice, only care for their young for about 1 month. Elephants care for their young for a long time, up to 10 years." Fluttershy noted. "Oh really?! " Discord asked, "How lucky are mammals to have such great care for as long as they needed. Makes me kind of wish that I was in their little class." "Actually, according to recent research, there are over 6495 mammal species, including 96 recently extinct." Fluttershy pointed out. "6495?! Wow, now that's a big class, alright!" Discord commented. Back to the main point, lecture about mammals, all mammal babies drink milk from their mothers." Fluttershy stated. "Even dolphins and whales?" Discord asked. "Even dolphins and whales," Fluttershy nodded, "Next fact: All mammals except ant eaters have teeth." "All except ant eaters?! Then why is the ant eater in the class?!" Discord asked, offending an ant eater in the sanctuary. "Because ant eaters still have the other traits that counts. Like having fur, raising their young, young feeds on mother's milk..." Fluttershy listed. "That's enough revision," Discord informed, "You may continue." "Bats are the only mammals that can fly, as flying squirrels are mammals that glide, not fly, despite having the word 'flying' in its name." Fluttershy explained. "Do you know that the fastest land animal runner is in the mammal class?" Fluttershy asked, "That mamal is the cheetah, with a speed of 70 mph. The cheetah has the perfect body for speed and has enlarged lungs, nostrils and heart to be able to get enough oxygen to run fast." "Of course the cheetah is the fastest runner, all those who know animals know that!" Discord commented. "Another interesting mammal is the orca, also known as the killer whale, are one of the fiercest of all animal hunters. Orcas are also known as the predators of who we thought was the top predator of the ocean; sharks!" Fluttershy pointed out. "Predator of sharks?!" Discord asked, "How can I not know that sharks have a predator until now?" "You'll never know when all these things will be discovered, Discord." Fluttershy told him, "We'll just go through what is already discovered and known. Speaking of known, here's another known mammal with a feature that might not be a feature that many will want." "Oh really? Just go on and tell me whatever it is." Discord singled. "The animal that sleeps the longest is in a koala, a mammal that sleeps 22 hours a day." Fluttershy revealed. "22 hours a day?! I always thought that your friend Rainbow Dash was the best at sleeping!" Discord could not help but say, "Maybe we should get her and a koala to have a sleeping competition..." "Discord?" Fluttershy asked, reminding him of why he was listening to her lectures about mammals. "Oh, right. Mammal lectures," Discord figured, sitting down. "Last fact of the today's mammal lecture; whale and dolphin babies do not sleep the first month of their life. Knowing this can be very helpful for an animal caregiver or any creature who deals with all sorts of animals." Fluttershy finished. "Got the last fact down!" Discord said out loud, after writing it in his notebook, which he caused to disappear after his writing was complete. "So what do you say, Fluttershy? Should I start taking care of all the mammals now?" "Just one more thing," Fluttershy told him, "To be assured that you know all that you got to know, let me ask you a few questions." "What questions?" Discord asked. "Question One: How do mammals reproduce?" Fluttershy asked. "That's easy. All mammals give birth to their young with the exception of the spiny anteater and the duckbilled platypus that lay eggs!" Discord answered. "Question Two: What about the body temperature of mammals?" "Mammals are warm-blooded so their body temperatures remain about the same their entire lives." "Question Three: All mammals have..." "Hair. All mammals have hair, even those that live in the ocean such as dolphins and whales." "Question Four: The only mammal that does not have teeth is..." "The ant eater. Ant eaters do not have teeth." Question Five: All mammal babies..." "Drink milk from their mothers." "Question Six: The only mammal capable of flight is..." "The bat." "Question Seven: The animal that sleeps the longest..." "Is the koala, a mammal that sleeps 22 hours a day." "Question Eight: One of the fiercest hunters of all animals is the mammal..." "The orca, also known as killer whales, which are the predators of the sharks in the ocean." "Question Nine: The fastest animal is..." "The cheetah, a mammal that can run up to 70 mph. Cheetahs has the perfect body for speed and has enlarged lungs, nostrils and heart to be able to get enough oxygen to run fast." "Last but not least, Question Ten: Dolphin and whale babies..." "Do not sleep the first month of their life." "Well done Discord! You answered all those questions like an animal expert." Fluttershy complimented. "Of course I did! I'm Discord, the Lord of Chaos, I can do anything!" Discord proudly claimed. "Then I expect you to get ready for the next lecture, about birds." Flutershy responded.