When Whales Walked

Why do whales have limb bone structures hidden in their skin, fat and muscles?

• to grow out legs

• they are leftover from when whales' ancestors had legs and walked on land.

• because it's a trend

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The pelvis of a whale is no longer used making it a vestigial structure. What does it suggest about whales?

• It was like humans that also have a pelvis

• It had legs and walked on land

• It had a pelvis for the tail to help them swim

• There is no real connection between modern whales and the pelvis

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Which of the following are evidence of evolution (select ALL that apply):

• many animals have homologous structures due to common ancestry

• Many animals have vestigial structures from an ancestor

• We can observe changes in life forms by observing the fossil record

• A person has not grown as tall as their parents but is taller than their grandparents

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What is the significance of the discovery of Ambulocetus in understanding whale evolution?

• It shows whales have always lived in water.

• It provides evidence of transitional forms between land mammals and whales.

• It suggests whales evolved from fish.

• It indicates whales are not related to other mammals.

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Which of the following is a characteristic of Pakicetus that links it to modern whales?

• Presence of gills

• Ability to fly

• Ear structure similar to whales

• Fins instead of legs

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What does the term 'vestigial structures' refer to in evolutionary biology?

• Structures that have no function and are not inherited

• Structures that are fully functional and necessary

• Structures that are inherited from ancestors but have lost their original function

• Structures that are newly evolved and have a new function

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How do scientists use the fossil record to study whale evolution?

• By comparing DNA sequences

• By analyzing the structure of bones and teeth

• By observing living whales

• By studying whale behavior

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What role do isotopic analyses play in understanding the diet of ancient whales?

• They help determine the color of the whale's skin

• They provide information about the whale's habitat

• They reveal the types of food the whale consumed

• They show the whale's migration patterns

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Which of the following adaptations helped early whales transition from land to water?

• Development of wings

• Loss of limbs

• Development of a streamlined body

• Ability to breathe underwater

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What is the significance of the discovery of the fossilized remains of Dorudon?

• It shows that whales have always been the same size

• It provides evidence of a fully aquatic whale ancestor

• It suggests whales evolved from birds

• It indicates whales are not related to other marine animals

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