Finding Species Similarities

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Paleontologist Noun

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[pay-lee-on-tol-uh-jist]

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Paleontologist

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A scientist who studies fossils to understand the history of life on Earth and the relationships between different species.

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Example: A paleontologist is a scientist who uncovers and studies fossils, like this skeleton being carefully brushed free from the earth, to learn about ancient life.

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Species Noun

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[spee-sheez]

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Species

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A group of closely related organisms that can reproduce and are often grouped based on similar body structures.

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Example: This image shows three different types of animals: a penguin, a tiger, and a butterfly. Each is a distinct species with a unique scientific name.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-lay-shun]

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Population

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A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same geographical area at the same time.

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Example: A population is a group of organisms of the same species living together in an area, like this large colony of penguins in Antarctica.

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Evolution Noun

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[ev-uh-loo-shun]

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Evolution

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The process of change in the inherited traits of a species over many generations, documented by the fossil record.

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Example: This 'tree of life' diagram shows how different animal groups evolved from a common ancestor, with branches representing new groups splitting off over time.

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Body Structure Noun

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[bod-ee struk-cher]

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Body Structure

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The specific arrangement of parts, such as bones and organs, that make up an organism's physical form.

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Example: Just like a body, a bicycle has a structure made of different parts, like the frame, wheels, and handlebars, that work together.

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Shared Structure Noun

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[shaird struk-cher]

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Shared Structure

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A body structure found in different species that is similar because it was inherited from a common ancestor.

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Example: This image shows that a whale's flipper and a hummingbird's wing share similar bone structures, like the humerus, inherited from a common ancestor.

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Ancestor Population Noun

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[an-ses-ter pop-yuh-lay-shun]

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Ancestor Population

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A historical population from which one or more new species have evolved over evolutionary time.

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Example: This family tree shows how one generation (highlighted) acts as the ancestor population for the next generation of offspring that follows.

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Common Ancestor Noun

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[kom-uhn an-ses-ter]

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Common Ancestor

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An ancestor population from which two or more different descendant species have evolved, explaining their shared body structures.

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Example: This diagram shows an evolutionary tree where two different lineages branch off from a single point, which is the most recent common ancestor.

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Descendant Species Noun

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[dih-sen-dant spee-sheez]

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Descendant Species

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A species that has evolved from a particular ancestor population through the process of speciation over geological time.

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Example: This diagram shows different finch species that descended from a common ancestor, each with a unique beak adapted for a specific food source.

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Fossil Record Noun

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[fos-uhl rek-erd]

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Fossil Record

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The total collection of discovered fossils, arranged chronologically, that documents the history of life on Earth.

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Example: The fossil record is shown as a timeline in rock layers; fossils in deeper layers (coral) are older than those in shallower layers (fern).