Chasing after Caminalcules

Dichotomous Key

Dichotomous keys are documents that allow you to classify and identify a species from its morphologic characteristics by going through a series of choices.

Dichotomous means "divided in two parts" - at each step, the user is given two choices until the item is identified.

Task

Construct a dichotomous key allowing you to identify the living organisms.

You don't need to follow the taxonomy you have built in the previous exercise nor their phylogenetic relationships.

Remember: Less questions means best dichotomous keys. The smaller, the better!

Question

Observe the dichotomous key you have constructed and both the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. Are taxonomic or phylogenetic characters always the faster way to identify an organism? Cite a concrete example.

Food Web

Observe the current living Caminalcules. From their characteristics, try to determine for each species:

• Does it move a lot?
• Is it herbivorous?
• Is it a predator? (usually have structures to hunt)
• Is it a prey? (usually needs organs to detect the vicinity of a predator)
• Is it aquatic?

Task

Determine which are the trophic relationships between these organisms, assuming that Caminalcules live isolated from other species, except vegetables.

Make a document including:

• For each species, its name and description
• A schema/drawing representing the Food Web

Stratigraphy and Guide Fossils

This activity is under construction.