©Sergey Krasovskiy/Handout via REUTERS
Pre-reading questions:
- What does the term “evolution” mean?
- What are some examples of prehistoric marine creatures you know?
Vocabulary:
- indicate /IN-di-keyt/
- distinguished /dih-STING-gwisht/
- combined /kuhm-BAHYND/
- significantly /sig-NIF-i-kuhnt-lee/
- evolution /ev-uh-LOO-shuhn/
[verb] – to suggest, show, or be a sign of something
The presence of fresh footprints indicates that someone was here recently.
[adjective] – used to describe someone or something that is characterized by excellence, renown, or notable achievement
She received an award from a distinguished panel of experts for her innovative research in environmental science.
[adjective] – describes something that is made by joining two or more items or groups together
The combined efforts of the two teams resulted in a breakthrough discovery in medical research.
[adverb] – in a way that is easy to see or by a large amount
The new policy significantly reduced pollution levels in the city.
[noun] – the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years
The theory of evolution proposes that species adapt and change over time in response to their environment.
Article reading:
Ichthyosaurs were formidable creatures that evolved from land-dwelling animals into predominant marine predators. The fossil uncovered, part of the lower jaw known as the surangular, highlights the ichthyosaur’s impressive size and suggests its capability for strong bites, likely making it a top predator in its ecosystem. The find is the result of collaborative efforts between amateur fossil hunters and professional paleontologists, including a distinguished team from the University of Manchester. Their work not only showcases the power of combined amateur and professional endeavors in paleontology but also emphasizes how random discoveries can significantly enrich the understanding of prehistoric life, contributing to the intricate history of evolution on Earth.
Comprehension questions
- Where was the fossilized remains of the marine reptile discovered?
- What does the jawbone of the ichthyosaur indicate about its size?
- What does the discovery tell us about the Triassic Period?
- How did ichthyosaurs evolve according to the article?
- What does the surangular part of the jaw suggest about the ichthyosaur’s capabilities?
Discussion questions
- Have you ever found something unexpected or historical? If yes, what was it and how did you feel about it? If not, what kind of discovery would excite you?
- Have you ever joined a community science project or a similar group activity? If yes, what did you do and what did you learn? If not, would you want to join one in the future? Why or why not?
- Do you think that having both amateurs and professionals work together on research projects makes the results better?
- How does the discovery of the ichthyosaur change our understanding of old ocean life and how different sea creatures interacted? What does this tell us about how ecosystems and evolution work?
- What are the good things and challenges of working together for people who love finding fossils as a hobby and scientists who study fossils professionally when they discover species like the ichthyosaur? How could working more closely together help us learn more about ancient environments and how living things have changed over time?