If anyone has watched the newer movie, 300, or at least know the history of the Battle of Thermopylea, then a proper analogy would be to say the Mandalorians were the Star Wars Spartans. They were normal people leading normal lives, but they were born, bred, and lived to battle. Jango Fett was their leader, the Manda'lor, but thats a title only. There was no love lost between him and his 'people', and Jango was too much a loner to try and bridge the gaps. Boba was similar in many ways, only more extreme. Boba Fett, while technically Manda'lor, put his bounty hunting career ahead of the Mandalorians, until much later. Eventually, he feels his own mortality, and is surprised to learn that his old love, and the daughter they'd had together, have died. Afterwards, he tries to forge a relationship with his granddaughter, and returns to the Mandalorian people.
As for their species, they were originally
Taung, but have assimilated many other species.