Species Mix-Up
A "species" is a sort or kind of
life, one of the most specific classifications in biology. A species might be a
type of bird, mammal, reptile, insect, fish, invertebrate sea creature . . .
you get the picture. The variety of plant and animal life is enormous, so when
we want to get specific, we narrow down our descriptions to one species.
Members of the same species look
like one another and can breed with one another, but cannot breed with other
species.
For an overview of how different the
various species are, here's a list of species that are endangered, or need to
be protected, from the Sacramento, Calif., zoo:
http://www.saczoo.com/1_about/_animals/_species_list.htm
The traits of the various families
of species tend to be pretty similar to each other . . . but they may be vastly
different from the traits of different types of species. Similarly, while many
species have bodies that provide similar functions to other species, such as
locomotion, the bodies of the two species may vary in vastly different ways.
For example, frogs and centipedes
both have legs that help them move, but they differ significantly in size,
shape, number and functionality. The wings of a hummingbird are vastly
different than the wings of a condor, though both fly. And on and on the
variety goes.
The more you study each species'
body parts and the way each one uses its body to survive, the more you can
appreciate the differences and similarities between species.
So, just for fun, let's mix them up!
Think of the traits you like in three tremendously different species, list them
in any of these three categories on the form below, and then draw and color a
picture of a creature which would have those three traits. If a trait you like
isn't listed in the three sections, write it in. Have fun and be imaginative,
but be realistic, too.
For example, if you choose the jaws
and teeth of a wolf, and the gills of a fish on that creature, you probably
can't have the short, skinny legs of a centipede because with those teeth, the
creature probably has to move fast to catch the kind of prey that can be eaten
with such big teeth, and with those gills, the creature probably has to swim
fast to get enough oxygen transfer through those gills, so it will need strong
legs.
See? It gets complicated!
You can add any other traits that
you would like to your three basic choices as you draw. Be sure to note what
the creature eats and how it gets its food in its natural habitat. Write why
you think the creature is unique and what you like about it. Name that
creature.
Voila! You just created a new
species! Of course, it's a heck of lot easier when it's done on paper. But it's
still interesting, isn't it?
If you'd like, photocopy the form
below and make as many more new species as you would like.
---------------
NEW SPECIES
NAME: _____________________________________
1. First trait
(circle
your choice)
Head
Ears
Eyes
Nose
Mouth
Teeth, jaws
Neck
. . . of a
______________________________________
(list the existing
species here)
2. Second
trait
(circle
your choice)
Skin
Feathers
Scales
Fins
Claws
Fur
Hair
. . . of a
________________________________________
(list a different
existing species here)
3. Third
trait
(circle
your choice)
Arms
Legs
Tentacles
Tail
Breathing
system
Digestive
system
Antennae
Feet
Hooves
. . . of a
_________________________________________
(list a different
existing species here)
Describe
this species' habitat:
How this
species gets its food:
What makes
it unique from other species:
What I like
about it:
Now draw
and color a picture of your new species:
By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • After School Treats 31 • © 2006
