Trilobites Ted-Ed

What are trilobites?

• Dinosaurs (part of the Dinosauria clade, class Reptilia)

• Ancient sea creatures (part of the arthropod phylum)

• Modern insects (part of the insect class)

• Large fish (part of the fish class)

What protected trilobites' bodies?

• Fur

• Feathers

• An exoskeleton

• Scales

How did trilobites see?

• With tiny glass lenses

• With large, simple eyes

• With compound eyes made of calcite

• They couldn't see

What was the Cambrian Explosion?

• A) A volcanic eruption

• B) A time when many animals appeared on Earth

• C) A meteor impact

• D) A big ocean wave

What happened to trilobites?

• They became modern-day fish

• They went extinct

• They moved to land

• They became dinosaurs

How long were trilobites around, and which species survived for a similar length of time?

• 1,000 years – similar to the dodo bird

• 10 million years – similar to saber-toothed cats

• 270 million years – similar to some sharks

• 500 years – similar to passenger pigeons

What does it mean for a species to be successful, and were trilobites successful?

• A species is successful if it lives a long time and spreads widely – yes, trilobites were successful

• A species is successful if it has large eyes – no, trilobites were not successful

• A species is successful if it eats a lot – no, trilobites were not successful
  

• A species is successful if it is very small – yes, trilobites were successful

What are some ways trilobites adapted to survive?

• They grew wings

• They learned to breathe air

• They developed spines and could roll into a ball

• They grew bigger brains

What animals today are distant relatives of trilobites?

• Mammals

• Arthropods like crabs and insects

• Birds

• Reptiles