Humans are mammals Most of us appreciate that at some level But what does it mean for us to have more in common with a horse & an elephant than we do with a parrot snake or frog? After a misdirected football left new father Liam Drew clutching a uniquely mammalian part of his anatomy he decided to find out more Considering himself as a mammal first & a human second Liam delves into ancient biological history to understand what it means to be mammalian In his humorous & engaging style Liam explores the different characteristics that distinguish mammals from other types of animals He charts the evolution of milk warm blood & burgeoning brains & examines the emergence of sophisticated teeth exquisite ears & elaborate reproductive biology plus a host of other mammalian innovations Entwined are tales of zoological peculiarities & reflections on how being a mammal has shaped the author's life I Mammal is a history of mammals & their ancestors & of how science came to grasp mammalian evolution & in celebrating our mammalian-ness Liam Drew binds us a little more tightly to the five & a half thousand other species of mammal on this planet & reveals the deep roots of many traits humans hold dear