An overhead view of the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. The hall tells the story of the evolution and adaptation of mammals over time through the use of 274 mammals and nearly a dozen fossils.
An overhead view of the watering hole in the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. While visitors watch animals drinking at the watering hole, they can also experience a rainstorm ending the dry season on the African savannah.
A giraffe drinks at the watering hole in the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. A giraffe’s heart pumps blood up its long neck at enormous pressure. When the animal bends to drink, several valves control the force of blood to prevent brain damage.
A giraffe drinks at the watering hole in the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. A giraffe’s heart pumps blood up its long neck at enormous pressure. When the animal bends to drink, several valves control the force of blood to prevent brain damage.
Kangaroos greet visitors to the new mammal hall’s section on Australia. Red kangaroos are the largest living marsupial and can hop, in short bursts, at up to 30 mph.
A close-up of the leopard and its catch, an impala. Leopards often drag prey into trees both for eating and for hiding the meat from scavengers such as hyenas and jackals.
A leopard lounges in a tree with its kill, an impala. Leopards often drag prey into trees both for eating and for hiding the meat from scavengers such as hyenas and jackals.
Meet one of your oldest relatives! Morganucodon oehleri lived in the shadow of the dinosaurs during the Triassic Period, about 210 million years ago. Fossils reveal that “Morgie” was one of the earliest true mammals because she had the advanced jaw and ear bones that all mammals share. Gary Staab sculpted this re-creation, which is made of bronze.
Meet one of your oldest relatives! Morganucodon oehleri lived in the shadow of the dinosaurs during the Triassic Period, about 210 million years ago. Fossils reveal that “Morgie” was one of the earliest true mammals because she had the advanced jaw and ear bones that all mammals share. Gary Staab sculpted this re-creation, which is made of bronze.
A deer and her fawn gaze at visitors in the temperate forest zone located in the Smithsonian’s new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. This fawn’s spots help to camouflage it in the light of the forest.
A look at the new mammal hall’s orientation gallery. While in this section of the hall, visitors learn the three characteristics that define a mammal – hair, milk and middle ear bones.
A polar bear looks down from atop his icy perch at a seal in the water below. Polar bears feed chiefly on seals, but they can also effectively hunt larger prey such as walruses.
A seal takes a dive in the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. A seal’s diet can include fish and crustaceans.
The giant anteater of the South American rainforest laps up thousands of insects in a single day. Though it’s a lot of bugs, the meal doesn’t provide a lot of energy for a mammal this size. To conserve energy, the giant anteater maintains a low body temperature and a slow-moving lifestyle.
A tiger greets visitors in the Orientation Gallery of the new Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals. The tiger’s distinctive black markings help to camouflage it in the tall jungle grass.
