Evolutionary History

This tortoise and this moray eel both have jaws that help them grab food. However, they have different structures in their jaws for eating. The tortoise has a bony beak that helps it bite plants. The moray eel has sharp teeth that help it eat fish. What most likely explains why both have jaws and why the jaws are different?

• All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that this tortoise and moray eel each happen to have jaws that are different.

• Tortoises and moray eels are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved jaws that help it survive in its environment.  

• It is impossible to explain the structures of different species. The way structures change over time is very complex, and no one has ever observed these changes occurring.

• Tortoises and moray eels both inherited jaws from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of jaws evolved that help the populations survive.

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This locust, this jumping spider, and this Roman snail have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

• All three species share an ancestor population, but locusts and jumping spiders share a more recent ancestor population. This is why they share the exoskeleton structure. 

• We cannot make observations of ancestor populations from the past. It is impossible to explain ancestors with only the information about the body structures of different species.

• Locusts and jumping spiders share an ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with Roman snails because Roman snails have a shell.

• None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population. It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures.

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The body structures for a population of green herons (a species of bird that lives near water) were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed to make the green herons taller. Why did this happen?

• It is impossible to say without more information.

• The green heron population wanted to be taller.

• Their environment must have changed.

• Organisms naturally become taller over time.

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The body structures for a population of chimpanzees were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed, making the chimpanzees stronger. Why did this happen?

• Organisms naturally become stronger over time.

• It is impossible to say without more information.

• The chimpanzee population wanted to be stronger.

• Their environment must have changed.

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Fill in the blanks: Species (blank) their body structures from their (blank) populations.

• evolve, previous

• inherit, descendant

• inherit, ancestor

• evolve, descendant

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What is a descendant population?

• the process by which one population evolves into two or more different species

• a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

• an older population from which two or more newer species descended

• a more recent species that evolved from an ancestor population

What is speciation?

• the process by which one population evolves into two or more different species

• a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

• an older population from which two or more newer species descended

• a more recent species that evolved from an ancestor population

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Evolutionary time is

• the process by which species adapt to environmental changes over a very long time

• the very long time that spans the history of Earth, from the very first cellular life to the present

• having died out completely and no longer alive anywhere on Earth

• evidence of life from the past, such as fossilized bones, footprints, or leaf prints

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A descendant species is

• an older population from which two or more newer species descended

• everything (living and nonliving) that surrounds an organism

• a related organism from a previous generation

• a more recent species that evolved from an ancestor population

A paleontologist is

• a scientist who studies weather

• a geologist

• a scientist who studies archaeology

• a scientist who studies fossils in order to understand the ancient history of life on Earth

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