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Answer Sheet Classifying Dinosaurs Based On Fossils

The document outlines a structured approach to classifying dinosaurs based on fossilized femur characteristics and skeletal features. It includes identifying the fourth trochanter's distribution among different dinosaur groups, analyzing a mystery femur, and recording conditions of various skeletal characters to determine phylogenetic relationships. The analysis aims to classify a specific dinosaur fossil based on shared derived traits and ancestral conditions observed in the fossilized skeleton.

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7 views5 pages

Answer Sheet Classifying Dinosaurs Based On Fossils

The document outlines a structured approach to classifying dinosaurs based on fossilized femur characteristics and skeletal features. It includes identifying the fourth trochanter's distribution among different dinosaur groups, analyzing a mystery femur, and recording conditions of various skeletal characters to determine phylogenetic relationships. The analysis aims to classify a specific dinosaur fossil based on shared derived traits and ancestral conditions observed in the fossilized skeleton.

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ANSWER SHEET | Classifying Dinosaurs Based on Fossils

PART I: IDENTIFYING THE FEMUR

1. Discuss the distribution of the four different character states of the fourth trochanter (A, B,
C, and D) on the dinosaur cladogram.

2. How do you explain the presence of A, B, and C types of fourth trochanters among the
ornithischians?

3. Based on this analysis, in what groups of the phylogeny could you place the fossil? Explain
your reasoning.
PART II: FURTHER IDENTIFYING THE FEMUR
4. Fill out the table with descriptions of the fourth trochanter for each type of dinosaur.

Position of the fourth


trochanter relative to the Shape of the fourth trochanter
midline of the femur

Heterodontosaurus

Psittacosaurus

Hypsilophodon

Tenontosaurus

Mystery femur

5. In which group do you think the mystery fossil belongs? Summarize your reasoning in a short
paragraph.

PART III: IDENTIFYING A SKELETON

1. For each of the 11 characters, use this table to record the condition observed in the
fossilized skeleton. Does it show the shared derived state or the ancestral condition? 1, 2,
and 3 are filled out for you as a model.
1. Hole in the hip socket: The fossil has a hole in 7. Number of fingers:
the hip socket, which is a shared derived condition
for the Dinosauria clade. (Note: All branches in the
Dinosauria clade are marked with black squares
on the cladogram.)

2. Grasping hand: The fossil has a grasping hand. 8. Uncinate process connecting the ribs:
This is a shared derived condition for saurischian
dinosaurs. (Note: All branches in the Saurischia
clade are marked with black squares on the
cladogram.)

3. Femoral fourth trochanter: The femur does 9. Scapula/humerus length:


not have a well-developed fourth trochanter. This is
a derived character for the Ornithischia clade.
Since our fossil does not have this character, it does
not help us with the identification of the fossil.
(Note: The Ornithischia clade is marked with a gray
square on the cladogram.)

4. Furcula: 10. Neck length:

5. Length of the leg bones: 11. Relative length of the fingers:

6. Fusion of the hip bones:

2. Below is a cladogram showing the relationships among dinosaur groups relevant to the Gobi
Desert fossil skeleton investigation. Use the table to visualize the distribution of the shared
derived characters included in the analysis. For example, the distribution of the character
“presence of a hole in the hip socket” is a shared derived character state of dinosaurs. On
the cladogram, use the fill or highlight function to color in the cells for all the branches in the
clade that share the derived character state. The first three characters are completed for you
to use as models. You may want to use one color to indicate characters that your fossil has
and another color to indicate clades that do not include the fossil.
3. Summary for Part III: What group of dinosaurs does the fossil in Figure 5 of the instructions
come from? Explain your reasoning based on the characters you examined and what they
tell you about the classification of this dinosaur fossil.
____________________________________________

PART III: IDENTIFYING A SKELETON


CLADOGRAM

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