Classification of Species exercise Classification of Species Lab This is an unformatted preview. Please download the attached document for the original format. Lab Report Name: ________________________ Section: ___________________ Classification of Species Exercise 1 - Classification of Sharks Using the Key to the Classification of Sharks by Family, identify the family for the sharks pictured in Figure 5 and record the family in the table below. Classification of Shark Family Specimens Shark # Family Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Questions: 1. What eight characteristics are used to identify the family of a shark (e.g., the shape of the body, etc.)? 2. What is the main structural characteristic that distinguishes shark number 12 from shark 1 number 7? 3. What is the main structural characteristic that distinguishes shark number 9 from shark number 13? 4. What type of characteristics do you think would be used to distinguish between the sharks into a specific genus? 5. What improvements could be made to this shark dichotomous key? Exercise 2 – Classification of a Fictional New Family Questions: 1. After arranging the fossil members of the Crawlas phylum, which of the examples is the youngest species? 2. What two fossil members are the oldest specimens? 3. List two structural similarities that the fossil members share. 4. List two structural differences the fossil members share. 5. Use the dichotomous key to identify each living family Crawla in Figure by correct genus and species based on structural similarities and differences. Record the genus and species name in the table below. Lab Report Name: ________________________ Section: ___________________ Classification of Specimens from the Crawla Family Crawla # Species Name Genus Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 6. Develop a hypothesis regarding the evolutionary links between the fossil and living specimens based on the classification system used in this exercise. 3 7. Were some of the living Crawlas placed in the same species? If so, do you think the similarities warranted classification in one species? Explain why or why not. 8. Were the characteristics of all of the living specimens able to fit in the key, or were there some specimens that were difficult to place? Explain your answer. 9. Were the characteristics of all of the fossil specimens able to fit in the key, or were there some specimens that were difficult to place? Explain your answer. 10. What is/are the main structural differences between living Crawlas number 1 and number 13? 11. Speculate and describe four structural characteristics that modern taxonomist would use to classify “real” insects into their proper genus and species.
