Comparative Anatomy Project
Biology II
Objective: Your goal is to compare an animal to the human body. Your final product is
to create a science fair style poster and present your comparisons to the class.
Due Date: Both your poster & presentation is due on ____________________________
Animals: Your group (1 to 3 people) will be assigned one of the following categories of
animals based on a random drawing: mollusks, annelids, crustaceans, arthropods,
echinoderms, fish, amphibians, reptiles, or birds. Your group will chose any animal from
this category but it cannot be the same species as any other group. If you have a group of
3 people you will choose two animal species (from different taxon group) to compare to
the human. The following are examples you can use but are not limited to:
 Mollusks: snails, clams, slugs
 Annelids: worms
 Crustaceans: crayfish, crab
 Arthropods: grasshoppers, spiders, ticks
 Echinoderms: starfish, sea urchin
 Fishes: sharks, bass, perch
 Amphibians: frogs, salamanders, toads
 Reptiles: snakes, dragons, lizards, turtles
 Birds: ducks, bald eagles, finches
Poster Board: Your poster will consist of the following three sections on a single poster
board (individual group) or tri-board (group of 2+ members):
 Human anatomy – 6+ paragraphs
 Animal anatomy – 6+ paragraphs
 Animal background – 3 ecology paragraphs and taxonomic rank names
o (KPCOFGS)
Animal Background:
 Taxonomic names for the species’ kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus,
& species
 Ecological habitat (biotic and abiotic factors) of the species.
 How animal fits into a food chain/web of the ecosystem.
 Mating patterns and behaviors of the species.
Human Anatomy Paragraphs:
 Digestive System:
o Mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, all sphincter muscles
 Excretory & Reproductive Systems:
o Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, male reproductive organs
(testes, vas deferens, prostate, epididymitis, penis, scrotum), female
reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tube, uterus, cervix, vagina)
 Respiratory System:
o Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, epiglottis, bronchi, alveoli,
diaphragm, how we breathe
 Circulatory System:
o Pulmonary vs. systemic, 2 atria & 2 ventricles of the heart, flow of blood
in body, heartbeat components, blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, veins),
blood (plasma, RBC, WBC, platelets)
 Nervous System:
o Brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, olfactory bulb, optic lobe, medulla
oblongata), spinal cord, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, reflexive reactions
 Locomotion:
o Axial & appendicular skeletons, cartilage, joints, ligaments, tendons,
skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, how muscles work,
origin, insertion, flexor, extensor
Animal Anatomy Paragraphs:
Write a paragraph for each of the corresponding animal body systems. Compare how
the system is different between your animal and a human. If the animal organs are
different from the human, explain their functions (as well as name the new organs).
Do not repeat your explanation of the functions of the organs that are the same as the
human. If the systems are the same as the human, explain the differences in size and
location of the animal’s body parts.
Requirements:
 All information is to be typed, easy to read from 4 feet away, all content on one
side of tri-board (or poster), and about 50% of poster are graphics.
 Works Cited page must be on the back of the poster with at least three difference
sources in proper MLA format.
 All members of the group must actively participate in the presentation.
 All members must put in an equal amount of time or points will be deducted
based upon input from group members.
Point Value: 100 Points
Mrs. Maroon’s
Comparative Anatomy Project
Grading Rubric:
Points
Earned
Points
Possible
Poster
Overall look
Creativity
10
0
Human
Info
Digestive
Excretory/Reproductive
5
5
Respiratory
5
Circulatory
5
Nervous
5
Locomotion
5
Digestive
5
Excretory/Reproductive
5
Respiratory
5
Circulatory
5
Nervous
5
Locomotion
5
Animal
Info
Teacher Comments
Background
Taxonomy
5
Habitat
5
Food chain/web
5
Mating Behavior
5
Everyone participates
5
Clear, accurate speech
5
Speech
Overall
Grade
100
Additional Comments:
Group Members:
_______________________
Animal Species:
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________