Evolution Project – 110
Due Date _____________
Animal Chosen: ____________________________________
You will make a scrapbook of your chosen vertebrate animal. Your scrapbook must include the following information:
Front Cover:




Picture or drawing of the animal
Common name
Scientific name (Genus and species)
Your name and class section
Part I
Background information (bulleted)
 What is the species habitat like and where is it located?
 What does your animal eat?
 How long does it live?
 How many offspring does it produce in one season?
Part II
Variations and Adaptations (bulleted)
 What are some variations found among members of the species? (i.e. size, color, weight)
 Name at least three adaptations of the species.
 Explain how each adaptation helps the animal survive and reproduce.
Part III
Homologous Structures (bulleted)
 Identify two structures on your animal that are homologous to two structures on a human
(skeletal picture provided)
 Explain how each homologous structure is similar to the human’s.
 Explain how each homologous structure is different from the human’s.
 Include a picture or drawing of each homologous structure for your animal and the human.
Part IV
Evolutionary Relationships (bulleted)
 Identify a species closely related to your animal (in the same Genus or Family).
 Explain what makes the species closely related.
 Explain what makes the species different.
 Identify a species that is distantly related to your organism (same Kingdom, Phylum, and
Class, but not in the same Order, Family, or Genus).
 Explain what makes the species similar.
 Explain what makes the species different
Part V
Vestigial Structures (Extra Credit)
 Identify a vestigial structure on your animal.
 What do scientists believe the structure was once used for?
 Why do scientists believe the structure became vestigial?
 If you cannot find a vestigial structure, explain what research you did to try to find one and
write a hypothesis about why you think your species does not have one.
Part VI
Works Cited
Back Cover:
Taxonomy of your animal (Extra Credit)
Fill out the slip below, tear or cut the slip off neatly, and turn it in to Mr. Calaski. This will serve as a record that you’ve
received the information for this project.
Name _______________________________________ Section _____________ Date __________________
Vertebrate Animal Species __________________________________________________________________
Signature ________________________________________________________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Section ________ Date Due _______________
Evolution Project Research Worksheet
Use this worksheet to take notes on the information that you must include in your scrap book on your
animal.
Front Cover Information
Common Name
Scientific Name
Did you remember to find/draw a picture?
Part 1: Background Information
What is the species habitat like?
Where is the species habitat located?
What does your animal eat?
How long does your animal live?
How many offspring does your animal
produce in one season?
Part II: Variations and Adaptations
Variations: List variations that you find for your species in the boxes below. Get as many as you
can! (i.e. size, color, weight, etc.)
Adaptation
(need at least 3!)
Part III: Homologous Structures
Homologous
Human
Structure
Structure
Pair
Adaptations
How does the adaptation help the animal
survive and reproduce?
Homologous
Animal Structure
How are they
similar?
How are they
different?
1
2
Did you include a picture/drawing of the human structures (see last page)? ____
Did you include a picture/drawing of your animal’s structures?____
Part IV: Evolutionary Relationships
Close Relative (In the same Family or Genus)
Common Name
Scientific Name
How is this animal similar
How is this animal
to yours?
different than yours?
Distant Relative (In the same Kingdom, Phylum, or Class but not in the same Order)
Common Name
Scientific Name
How is this animal similar
How is this animal
to yours?
different than yours?
Part V: Vestigial Structures (Extra Credit for 110s)
Vestigial Structure
What do scientists think it was
once used for?
Why do scientists think it
became vestigial?
If you cannot find a vestigial structure for your animal…
What searches did you try?
What sources did you look in?
Your hypothesis about why
(search engine, key words…)
your species may not have a
vestigial structure…
Part VI: Works Cited (Write sources here or copy and paste into a word document and print it.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Back Cover: Taxonomy (Extra Credit for 110s)
Taxa
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
You also can include any sub-taxa that your
animal is classified into (if there are any)
For your animal…
Human Skeletal Picture (you may use this for Part III: Homologous Structures)
Student Name _________________________________________________
Class # ________
Evolution Project Rubric - 110
Project Section
Front Cover

Picture or drawing of the animal

Common name

Scientific name (Genus and species)

Your name and class section
Part I: Background information (bulleted)

What is the species habitat like and where is it located?

What does your animal eat?

How long does it live?

How many offspring does it produce in one season?
Part II: Variations and Adaptations (bulleted)

What are some variations found among members of the species? (i.e.
size, color, weight)

Name at least three adaptations of the species.

Explain how each adaptation helps the animal survive and reproduce.
Part III: Homologous Structures (bulleted)

Identify two structures on your animal that are homologous to two
structures on a human (skeletal picture provided)

Explain how each homologous structure is similar to the human’s.

Explain how each homologous structure is different from the human’s.

Include a picture or drawing of each homologous structure for your
animal and the human.
Part V: Evolutionary Relationships (bulleted)

Identify a species closely related to your animal (in the same Genus or
Family).

Explain what makes the species closely related.

Explain what makes the species different.

Identify a species that is distantly related to your organism (same
Kingdom, Phylum, and Class, but not in the same Order, Family, or
Genus).

Explain what makes the species similar.

Explain what makes the species different.
Works Cited
Total
Possible
Points
Points
Earned
4
4
4
4
4
4
24
Vestigial Structures (Extra Credit)

Identify a vestigial structure on your animal.

What do scientists believe the structure was once used for?

Why do scientists believe the structure became vestigial?

If you cannot find a vestigial structure, explain what research you did
to try to find one and write a hypothesis about why you think your
species does not have one.
Back Cover: Taxonomy of your animal (Extra Credit)
4
4
Percentage
4
Information included
is complete, clear,
and accurate.
Provides relevant
and specific
vocabulary
Explanation of Score
3
2
Information included Information included
is fairly complete,
is partial and
clear, and accurate. possibly unclear.
Provides relevant
Provides a mix of
but limited evidence accurate and
using mostly correct inaccurate
scientific
evidence. using
vocabulary.
minimal scientific
vocabulary
1
Information included
is minimal. Consists
mostly of inaccurate
evidence. Scientific
vocabulary is
inaccurate or not
used.
0
Information is
incorrect, irrelevant,
or contains
insufficient evidence
to show any
understanding of
the concept.
OR
Question was left
blank.