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Extraterrestrial Enigma 7-12
Extraterrestrial Enigma 7-12
Extraterrestrial Enigma
Classifying Extraterrestrials by Analysis of
Shared Characteristics
T
MATERIALS
paper, copy
copy of extraterrestrials
glue stick
pencil, colored, individual
scissors
Astrobiologists are amazed at the diversity of life found in the sample. After
preliminary studies, scientists have agreed that the newly discovered organisms
share many characteristics with species found on Earth. This has led them to place
the organisms in the Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda,
and the newly defined Class Aliusmundisia (other-world).
You have been given the task to classify and create names for the family, genus,
and species levels for one of the orders within this class. The Order Ungulapoda
(claw-foot) is a diverse group with elaborate exoskeletons and clawed feet.
After careful observation of their physical traits, you should be able to establish
the divisions within this order based on similarities and differences among the
organisms.
PURPOSE
In this activity, you will organize the extraterrestrials into families, genera, and
species. You will also create scientific names for each species.
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.
PROCEDURE
1. Study the set of recently discovered extraterrestrials and carefully cut out
each individual.
2. Organize the extraterrestrials into families as you see fit. Within each family,
further subdivide the group into genus and species on the basis of similar
characteristics.
3. Once you have sorted the organisms into their respective families, genera
and species, neatly glue each group onto a sheet of paper provided by your
teacher. Leave plenty of room to write in family and scientific names above
each group and three shared traits below each group.
Note: family names end
with idae
4. Invent family names for each family you created. Write the family name
above each family.
Remember, this
consists of a two-part
name, genus and
species. The genus
name is capitalized,
the specific epithet is
not, and the scientific
name (genus + specific
epithet) is underlined or
italicized.
5. Create a scientific name for each species. When naming the species, try to
make them sound Latin, for example, Alienus strangus.
You should create six to ten scientific names depending upon how many
groups you have in your classification system. All individuals in the same
species should have the same scientific name.
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.
CONCLUSION QUESTIONS
2. Explain why all extraterrestrials are not placed in the same family.
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.
GOING FURTHER
Figure 1. Specimen A
Name:
Figure 2. Specimen B
Name:
Figure 3. Specimen C
Name:
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.
Figure 4. Dichotomous
key
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15b.
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.
L E S S O N
C O N S U M A B L E
Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.