PBS EONS The Strange Case of the Buzzsaw Jaws

What was the initial belief about the existence of the Helicoprion?

• It was a plant.

• It was a fictional character.

• It was a real animal.

• It was a myth.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Who discovered the strange, circular fossil in the Ural Mountains?

• Charles Darwin

• Alexander Karpinsky

• Isaac Newton

• Marie Curie

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

What did Karpinsky initially think the fossil was?

• A meteorite

• An ammonite

• A dinosaur bone

• A plant fossil

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Where did Karpinsky originally think the tooth-whorl was located on the Helicoprion?

• Lower jaw

• Snout

• Back

• Upper jaw

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What was one of the main challenges in reconstructing the Helicoprion?

• Identifying its predators

• Locating the tooth-whorl

• Determining its diet

• Finding its habitat

Where were some of the key fossils of Helicoprion found?

• Nevada and China

• Australia and Africa

• Antarctica and India

• Europe and South America

What technology helped researchers finally reconstruct the Helicoprion?

• X-ray

• CT scan

• Ultrasound

• MRI scan

What did the CT scan reveal about the Helicoprion's jaw?

• It had upper teeth.

• It had no teeth.

• It had a beak-like structure.

• The lower jaw had a saw-blade of teeth.

What is the closest living relative of the Helicoprion?

• Sharks

• Ratfish

• Dolphins

• Whales

What is still unknown about the Helicoprion?

• Its size

• Its eating mechanism

• Its diet

• Its exact appearance