What is a Species

Question 1

who is the founding father of taxonomy

Answer 1

Carl Linnaeus

Question 2

why is Linnaeus important

Answer 2

he introduced a new system for scientifically naming organisms

Question 3

what makes up a binomial name

Answer 3

genus name and the specific epithet

Question 4

in the example of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, what is the genus name

Answer 4

Tyrannosaurus

Question 5

what are the rules for the binomial names, genus and specific epithet

Answer 5

genus is always capitalized
specific epithet is not capitalized
full name (binomial) is italicized

Question 6

what are the four animals/dinos that share its specific epithet with the Tyrannosaurus rex

Answer 6

othnielia rex - ornithopod
nuralagus rex - extinct rabbit
comitas rex - sea snail
cattleya rex - flower

Question 7

what are the three rules for how a species gets its binomial name

Answer 7

1. rule of priority - once a species has officially been given a binomial name, it cannot be changed
2. there must be a published description of the species in a peer reviewed scientific publication
3. designate a holotype specimen

Question 8

_______ is a physical example of the new species that must be kept in a research institution so others can study it

Answer 8

holotype specimen

Question 9

true or false - a holotype specimen needs to be a complete specimen

Answer 9

false - they are hardly ever complete

Question 10

name the important specimen found at the U of A Lab of Vertebrate Paleo

Answer 10

Hesperonychus elizabathae

Question 11

what is the abbreviated name and number associated with the Hesperonychus elizabathae holotype specimen

Answer 11

UALVP 48778

Question 12

what part of the Hesperonychus elizabathae was found

a) all of it
b) pectoral girdle
c) femur
d) pelvis

Answer 12

d

Question 13

the Hesperonychus elizabathae is a

a) ornithopod
b) dromaeosaurid
c) sauropod

Answer 13

b

Question 14

interspecific variation is defined by

a) different morphology
b) same morphology

Answer 14

b

Question 15

true or false - individuals that belong to the same species show INTRAspecific variation

Answer 15

true

Question 16

what is an example of sexual dimorphism in modern animals

Answer 16

male deers have antlers, but females do not

Question 17

what is ontogenetic variation

Answer 17

variation between young and adult individuals of the SAME species

Question 18

_____ is the normal variation that exists among individuals of a species

Answer 18

individual variation

Question 19

what is an example of individual variation

Answer 19

eye color and hair color in humans

Question 20

plastic deformation (change in bone) can result in ….

Answer 20

taphonomic variation

Question 21

_______ define a species as a group of organisms that can successfully interbreed

a) biological species concept
b) morphological species concept

Answer 21

a

Question 22

which species concept can be applied to modern animals and plants

Answer 22

biological species concept

Question 23

true or false - the biological species concept can be applied to asexual organisms

Answer 23

false - it cannot

Question 24

define the morphological species concept

Answer 24

a species as a group of organisms that share a certain degree of physical similarity

Question 25

when can we assume that the fossil specimens belong to the same species

Answer 25

if their physical similarities are consistent with what is expected

Question 26

what are the two factors that make the morphological species concept tricky to apply

Answer 26

ontogenetic changes and sexual dimorphism

Question 27

define the differences between lumpers and splitters

Answer 27

lumpers - paleontologists need more differences before they consider two species to be distinct splitters - paleontologists need less differences before they consider two species to be distinct

Question 28

what is the name of the smallest known dinosaur in North america

Answer 28

Hesperonychus

Question 29

how many species are on earth

Answer 29

between 5 and 30 million species

Question 30

what are the two species of Edmontosaurus

Answer 30

Edmontosaurus annectus and Edmontosaurus regalis

Question 31

what is the most reliable feature that scientists can use to divide up organisms into separate species

Answer 31

number of fingers on the hand

Question 32

what is the latin name for the species of dogs

Answer 32

Canis Lupis familiaris

Question 33

what are the two things needed for mating to occur

Answer 33

the species need to live at the same time at the same place

Question 34

which of the following statements are true a) one or more species make up a population b) one or more populations make up a species

Answer 34

b