Author: Biology Junction Team

Birds & Mammals Study Guide BI

Birds & Mammals Study Guide

What replaces teeth in modern birds?
How many chambers are there in a bird’s heart? a mammal’s heart?
Name 2 vertebrate groups that lay amniote eggs?
Did all fossilized birds have beaks? Explain.
Do most terrestrial vertebrates use internal or external fertilization?
Which mammal group carries its young in a pouch?
What mammal order lives entirely in water?
What characteristic of retile, bird, & mammal skin allows them to live on land?
Give several uses for hair or fur in mammals.
Name 2 main characteristics of all mammals.
What determines the type of teeth a mammal will have?
What group of mammals are egg layers?
What is the purpose of the placenta?
List several ways that birds are different from reptiles.
What were the earliest flying vertebrates?
From what group did birds probably arise?
Besides amniote eggs & living on land, name another way reptiles & birds are alike?
What group of mammals remain inside the mother until they are completely developed?
What mammal group has forelimbs modified into flippers?
What type of teeth are found in deer?
Name 2 sirenians.
What mammal group is born immature & finishes developing in the mother’s pouch?
In what order are dogs found?
Give 2 uses for the sounds that bats make? Can humans hear these sounds?
Name 2 marsupial mammals.
Echidnas & duck billed platypus are what type of mammals?
What are monotremes?
What are placental mammals?
Feathers are modified __________.
Describe the bones of birds.
What is the purpose of the crop in birds?
Birds excrete their nitrogenous waste as ____________.
Why is a bird’s respiration so efficient?
What are talons & what is their function?
Do all songbirds produce songs? Explain.
Where is the diaphragm located in mammals? What is its purpose?
Give the function of the syrinx in birds.
Reptiles called therapsids gave rise to what vertebrate group?
What type of teeth would carnivorous mammals have?
BACK

 

Build a Cell

Use of our material:
This activity was created by Kelly Riedell for students in Biology class at Brookings High School. We have worked very hard on activities, Powerpoints/games/worksheets, etc to make this a resource for our students. If you are using our materials, please give us credit for our efforts by listing us as a source with links to our site.
Any questions, comments, or corrections can be directed to us at

BUILD -A-CELL GAME
Students review by answering questions AND
by practicing what parts look like and their
location as they build their cell.

AHEAD OF TIME:
1. Make a copy of the question cards. and cut them apart
You will need a set of question cards for each group of 4
I make the sets different colors so the cards don’t get mixed up.

2. Print out the Build a cell game parts sheets.
Copy the blank cell page onto colored paper (1 for each student)
Copy off the cell parts pieces onto clear transparency sheets, cut out,  and place in
paper lunch bags. (1 lunch bag per game group with enough parts in it to make 4 cells.)
Using clear transparencies allows some cell parts to build on top of each other.
(Ex: nucleolus goes inside nucleus, ribosomes sit on top of Rough ER)

PLAY THE GAME:
Students play in groups of 3-4. Each group has a lunch bag with cell parts pieces and a deck of question cards. Each student has his/her own blank cell score sheet. Students play by taking turns answering questions.  If they answer correctly, they get to pick a cell part from the lunch bag and place it on their cell scorecard in the correct place. If they get  it wrong they don’t get a part and the next student gets a turn.

First student to get all 9 cell parts into their cell is the winner.

Build a Bug

 

Build-a-Bug

 

Introduction:

Most adult insects have the following characteristics:

    1. A body divided into three parts (head, thorax and abdomen)
    2. Three pairs of legs
    3. Usually one pair of antennae and a pair of compound eyes (a few exceptions to these characteristics are found)
    4. Usually two pairs of wings (absent in many insects such as lice, fleas, ants; flies have one pair of wings)

There are approximately 30 orders of insects. Choose one of the insects from these orders.

INSECT ORDERS

Click on the link to learn more about the characteristics of that order. There are links to specific insects on each page.  Visit the Field Guide Index to see a listing of all insects featured in the Field Guide.

Objective:

Students will build biologically correct insects in order to learn insect structure and adaptations.

Materials:

Any non-food item such as cardboard, egg cartons, clay, wire, felt, Styrofoam, pipe cleaners, nylon stockings, pipe cleaners, paint, glue, string, etc.

Guidelines:

  1. Your model must be an INSECT (i.e. no spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, or millipedes, please). Note: Your insect does not have to live in the United States.
  2. Your model must be between 6-12 inches long, and sturdy.
  3. Be accurate when building your model (appropriate proportions, true color and form, etc.).
  4. The more detail your model has, the better.
  5. A written description must accompany your model and include:
  • The common name of the insect
  • The name of the order to which it belongs
  • A brief description of the insect’s habitat
  • Where the insect is located geographically
  • At least 2 interesting, and unique facts about the insect you have modeled (i.e. “it has 6 legs and 3 body segments” doesn’t count)
  • Your name and address on model description

Examples of Models:

 

 

Spiny Katydid Monarch
Dragonfly Damselfly Luna Moth
Walking Stick Grasshopper Yellow jacket
Atlas Moth Carpenter ant Praying Mantid

 

 

Bullfrog Skeletal Reconstruction

 

 

Bullfrog Skeleton Reconstruction

 

Introduction:

The skeleton of the frog consists chiefly of bony and cartilaginous elements.  The functions of a skeleton include providing support for the body,  protection of delicate internal organs and attachment surfaces for muscles.  In vertebrates, the axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column, sternum (breast bone) and ribs (which are not present in amphibians).  The vertebral column of frogs is made up of 10 vertebrae, the first of which (called the atlas) articulates with the base of the skull.  The atlas is the only cervical vertebra in the frog.  The next seven vertebrae are abdominal vertebrae, which is the large sacrum with two strong transverse processes that join with the ileum.  The last vertebra is the long and highly modified urostyle.  Note:  Most vertebrates have a tail supported by caudal vertebrate, but frogs and toads are atypical in that they lack any tail and are therefore called anurans (“tail less amphibians”).

 

Lab_9b-17a  

1. Skull
2. Axis Cervical vertebrae)
3. Abdominal vertebrae
4. Cervical Vertebrae
5. Urostyle
6. Scapula
7. Ilium
8. Ischium
9. Humerus
10. Radio-ulna
11. Carpals
12. Metacarpals
13. Phalanges
14. Femur

 

 

The appendicular skeleton includes the limbs and the pectoral and pelvic girdles that support them.  In most vertebrates the forelimbs consist of three major bones — the humerus, radius and ulna, along with the smaller bones of the hand (carpals, metacarpals and phalanges).  Note that in the frog the radius and ulna have become fused into a single bone, the radio-ulna.  Likewise, the hindlimbs consist of three major bones — the femur, tibia and fibula, along with the smaller bones that make up the feet (tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges). Once again, in frogs and toads the tibia and fibula have become fused into a single bone, the tibio-fibula.  The pectoral girdle consists of four pairs of bones (the suprascapula, scapula, coracoid, and clavicle).  The last three pairs are connected to the sternum.  In frogs, the pelvic girdle, which supports the hindlimbs, is formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium and non-ossified pubis.  Each femur fits into a socket on the pelvic girdle called an acetabulum.  Note that the pelvic girdle and limb structure are well adapted for giving a powerful, synchronous thrust of both hind limbs in swimming and jumping

Objective:

By reassembling an amphibian skeleton, students will learn the bones and modifications of a vertebrate.

Materials:

Dermestid beetles, small aquarium with air-vented lid,  dermestid bedding, food, & water supply, freeze-dried bullfrogs, tweezers, small container with lid for bones, 20% H2O2, thin piece of wood, paints, and glue.

Procedure:

  1. Place the freeze dried frog into a small aquarium of dermestid beetles.
  2. Leave the frog skeleton in the aquarium for several days to several weeks until all flesh has been stripped from the skeleton.
  3. Carefully remove all bones from the aquarium and use forceps to carefully pull away any flesh that remains..
  4. Rinse the bones in running water thoroughly.
  5. Bleach the bone in 20% hydrogen peroxide solution until the bones appear white.
  6. Dry the bones and articulate them. (use the above diagram to help in the arrangement of the bones.)
  7. Bones should be mounted on a thin piece of wood.
  8. You may be creative and place your frog in a scene of your choosing — playing football or basketball, swimming in a pond, practicing ballet, etc.

Examples: