THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BIRDS OF PREY
A 140– WRITING ASSIGNMENT #4- NAME Fa20
The Evolution of ModernBirds of Prey, Dolphins, Baleen Whales, and Horses?
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BIRDS OF PREY (HAWKS, EAGLES, FALCONS, OSPREY, OWLS, ETC.) (page 1)
Illuminate (investigate, draw/diagram/print, label, and describe)what the fossil record shows regarding the ways that adaptations or adaptive complexes present in scale coveredPaleozoic stem or “dawn” reptiles (sprawling limbed, terrestrial quadrupeds with eyes located on the sides of their heads) evolved to the adaptations or adaptive complexes, such as feathers, acute vision, wings, flight, upright hind limbs with talons, etc.that are present in modern birds of prey (hawks, eagles, falcons, osprey, owls, etc.)
Feathers covering most of the body; be sure to address each category a) downy feathers for insulation b) contour/ surface feathers for protection, coloration, insulation, reduced drag during flight, etc. c) ornamental feathers for visual recognition and display, attracting mates, etc. d) aerodynamic wings and tails with asymmetric flight feathers
Forward facing, telescopic eyes backed with densely packed retinal receptors that allow raptors to spot prey from a long way off and that allow raptors to determine the precise location of prey so that they can grasp it with their talons.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BIRDS OF PREY (HAWKS, EAGLES, FALCONS, OSPREY, ETC.) (page 2)
How did thefront legs and feet found in ancient reptiles evolve into the wings found in birds of prey? {air foil shape witha thick, rounded leading edge tapering to a thin trailing edge of overlapping, asymmetrical flight feathers}.
How did the hips, hind legs, and feet found in ancient stem reptiles evolve into the hips, legs,and clawed, grasping organs (talons) found in birds of prey?
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS? (page 1)
Illuminate (investigate, draw/diagram/print, label, and describe)how the adaptations or adaptive complexes present in whale ancestors that lived 55 Ma (tiny, omnivorous, terrestrial, unguligrade, quadrupeds with multiple hoofed digits on each foot) evolved into the adaptations or adaptive complexespresent inmodernBOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS.
- Adaptations for aquatic breathing, feeding and sound generation including the elongated rostrum, peg-like teeth, retracted nasal openings, and “telescoped” and “dished” cranial and facial bones to house fatty “melon”, dorsal blowhole with air passages, phonic lips to generate high frequency sound bursts.
- Adaptations for aquatic hearing(involved in echolocation, communication, etc.) Be sure to explain how sound waves pass from thesound generating system into the water, are reflected off of objects and back through the water, through the mandibular “acoustic window” to the fat pad in hollow mandible, up to the auditory bullae with itsinvolucrum, into the fluid in the cochlea to stimulate tiny hairs tosend nerve signals up the auditory nerves to where the signals are sensed (“experienced”) in thedolphin’s brain.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS? (page 2)
Illuminate (investigate, draw/diagram/print, label, and describe)howthe adaptations or adaptive complexes present in whale ancestors that lived 55 Ma (tiny terrestrial, unguligrade, quadrupeds) evolved into the adaptations or adaptive complexes for aquatic locomotion {swimming} present in themodern BOTTLENOSEDOLPHIN.
How did dolphin’s flippers evolve?
How didthe vestigial pelvis andhind limbs,up and down motion of spine when swimming, musculature, flexion-extension motion,and the horizontally oriented tail flukes evolve.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BALEEN WHALES? (page 1)
Illuminate (investigate, illustrate {draw, diagram, print}, describe, and explain) what scientists have discovered regarding the evolution of the adaptations or adaptive complexes present in modern baleen whales.
- cranial anatomy: the very large cranium with “telescoped” cranial and facial bones, as well as adaptations for aquatic breathing, sound generation (retracted nasal opening for blowhole, air passages, chambers, phonic lips, lungs, muscular diaphragm, etc.) to generate “mating songs”, infra-sound (ultra-low frequency sound, etc.)
- Adaptations for hearing underwater “mating songs”, infra-sound travels long distances through the water to other whales where the vibrations enter their skulls through various boney pathways, penetrates the auditory bullae with its involucrum, vibrates the fluid in the cochlea to stimulate tiny hairs to send nerve signals up the auditory nerves to the whale’s brain.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN BALEEN WHALES? (page 2)
- The mysticete baleen filter feeding system with the huge, curved jaws, pleated, distensible gullet supported by lower jaw, baleen curtains/sieves hanging from upper jaw bones, gigantic tongue, etc.
- Adaptations for aquatic locomotion {swimming} present in a typical BALEEN WHALE (humpback whales and blue whales are both good examples). Include the huge stream-lined cranium with telescoped facial and cranial bones, huge mandibular rami to support expandable gullet, aquadynamic body shape, huge flippers,
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN HORSES(page 1)
Illuminate (investigate, draw/diagram/print, label, and describe)what the fossil record shows regarding the evolution of the following adaptations or adaptive complexespresent in modern HORSES (genus Equus).
Visualsystem(eyes: pupil, lense, retina, tapetum lucidum, etc. ALSO: orbit placement, visual field, etc.)
Auditory (hearing) system (pinnae {external ears}, ear tube, ear drum, ear ossicles, inner ear {especially the cochlea and semi-circular canals}
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN HORSES (page 2)
Illuminate (investigate, draw/diagram/print, label, and describe)what the fossil record shows regarding evolution of the following adaptations or adaptive complexes present in modern HORSES (genus Equus).
Food gathering (vibrissae, nostrils, lips, tongue, incisors, etc.) and masticatory (chewing) systems (tongue, jaws, jaw muscles, dentition, etc.)
Locomotor system (quadrupedal, monodactyl, unguligrade cursors)
