Carefully examine the image below to help you fill out evidence cards about some of the structures that the Mystery Fossil shares with either whales or wolves. Then, sort the cards in Table 2: Sorting Shared Structures Among the Mystery Fossil, Whales, and Wolves. When you have completed the entire activity, answer the question below.
After analyzing the Mystery Fossil’s structures and comparing them to the structures of whales and wolves, which claim do you think is more strongly supported by the evidence? (check one)
Claim 1: The Mystery Fossil belongs with the whales, in the Whale (Cetacea) exhibit.
Claim 2: The Mystery Fossil belongs with the wolves, in the Carnivore (Carnivora) exhibit.
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Question 2
2.
Do you think the Mystery Fossil shares a more recent common ancestor with whales or with wolves?
CFS:
student describes the relationship between anatomical similarities and differences in animal species
student describes the environmental difference between animal species with a common ancestor based on body structures
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Question 3
3.
Label each question location as orca whale or gray wolf to model your claim about where the Mystery Fossil belongs on an evolutionary tree.
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Question 4
4.
Based on your answer above, identify the correct location for the Orca whale and the Gray wolf on the evolutionary tree above. Provide reasons for your answer in the space provided.