1. Body structure: This includes the animal's overall shape, size, and proportions, as well as the structure of its body parts, such as its head, limbs, and tail.
2. Behavior: This includes the animal's typical activities, such as how it moves, feeds, communicates, and interacts with other animals.
3. Habitat: This includes the type of environment in which the animal lives, such as a forest, desert, grassland, or aquatic environment.
4. Diet: This includes the types of food that the animal eats, such as plants, animals, or a combination of both.
By considering these four characteristics, it is possible to identify most animals to at least a general level. For example, an animal with a long neck, four legs, and a mane is likely to be a horse, while an animal with two wings, a beak, and feathers is likely to be a bird.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. For example, there are some animals that do not fit neatly into any one category. For example, platypuses are mammals that lay eggs, and bats are mammals that fly. However, by considering the four basic characteristics listed above, it is possible to get a good start on identifying most animals.