section_path: Anatomy/Distinguishing features
section_name: Distinguishing features
paragraph_text: Distinguishing features
  
  Living mammal species can be identified by the presence of sweat glands, including those that are specialized to produce milk to nourish their young. In classifying fossils, however, other features must be used, since soft tissue glands and many other features are not visible in fossils.
  
  Many traits shared by all living mammals appeared among the earliest members of the group:
  
  For the most part, these characteristics were not present in the Triassic ancestors of the mammals. Nearly all mammaliaforms possess an epipubic bone, the exception being modern placentals.