4.01 Assignment Template Rev 2022

4.
01 Marine Biodiversity Activity Worksheet

Fill in the blue boxes of this activity sheet as you learn more about how fossil evidence determines the
relationships of whale ancestors and their descendants. You will submit your completed worksheet.
Student Name Sophia pontieri
Date 1/30/24
Introduction
The evolution of whales may seem like a mystery. How did a large mammal come to live entirely in
water, while other mammals evolved on land? Science holds the key to these questions. The discovery
of fossils with transitional features demonstrates how whales transformed from land animals to ocean
dwellers.
Hypothesis
How does fossil evidence determine the relationships of whale ancestors and their descendants?
Fossil evidence can help determine how whale ancestors were when they were alive along with their
descendants.
Part One (12 points, 2 points each)
Write a short summary in your own words about each of these animals. The first four are whale
ancestors, and the last two are modern whales. Note any major changes or adaptations, or interesting
information from the fossil record. Each summary should be three to five sentences. You may research
this information using reliable journals, books, or websites. You can review reliable sources if needed.
Be sure to note any sources you use.
Pakicetus Summary:
The pakicetus whale was actually a land animal! This whale/animal was the first whale ever.
The head shape was one of a whale although it had legs and a body like a wolf.
Ambulocetus Summary:
The ambulocetus was a walking whale. It had webbed feet, and paddled through water. Just
like the pakicetus the relation to a whale is its head shape.
Rodhocetus Summary:
The rodhocetus is very similar to a whale. It had feet like the others although the feet were
more webbed. The face almost looks like a dolphin with the long snout.
Page 1 of 3
Dorudon Summary:
The dorudon was a smaller whale. It did not have feet but it had fins. It had very sharp teeth,
and look similar to a dolphin as well.
Odontocetes Summary:
The odontocetes was a toothed whale, very similar to a whale.
Mysticetes Summary:
The most similar to the whales structure today. Very big.
Sources (References) Used for Part One:
ALL .GOV
Part Two (6 points)
Create a timeline to show when each of these animals lived. Please click here to access a timeline
template. Please paste an image of your timeline below. Links cannot be graded.
Part Three (12 points, 2 points each)
Please use complete sentences to answer the conclusion questions below.
1. What types of skeletal changes occurred during whale evolution?
The whole whale evolution has a big change and that is the fins were once feet and arms.
2. What change (or transition) in habitat did whales’ ancestors make?
Changing from Land to Water.
3. Which fossil organism in whale evolution do you think was the first to live mostly in water?
Explain your claim with evidence and reasoning.
Page 2 of 3
4. Explain the changes in the skeletons during the transition in habitat according to the theory of
natural selection.
5. What are the similarities and differences between the whale fossils?
6. How does fossil evidence determine the relationships of whale ancestors and their
descendants?
Save This Google Doc

A copy of this Google Doc will automatically be saved to your Google Drive. You may edit this Google
Doc online at any time and also access it through the Google Doc app on your smartphone or tablet.
However, to obtain credit for this assignment, you must save this completed document to your
computer and submit it online within your marine science class. See instructions on how to save a
Google Doc as a .pdf here: https://tinyurl.com/ur7vyhd
Next Steps
After completing this document, please open your marine science “Assessments” tab and click on
“04.01 Marine Biodiversity” assignment. Please upload your .pdf and submit for assignment credit. Note
that a link to your Google Doc will not be accepted for credit.
Page 3 of 3

4.01 Assignment Template Rev 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4.01 Assignment Template Rev 2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

4.01 Assignment Template Rev 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4.

01 Marine Biodiversity Activity Worksheet

Student Name Sophia pontieri

Part One (12 points, 2 points each)

The odontocetes was a toothed whale, very similar to a whale.

The most similar to the whales structure today. Very big.

Sources (References) Used for Part One:

Part Two (6 points)

Part Three (12 points, 2 points each)

Please use complete sentences to answer the conclusion questions below.

1. What types of skeletal changes occurred during whale evolution?

2. What change (or transition) in habitat did whales’ ancestors make?

Changing from Land to Water.

Save This Google Doc

You might also like