Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial

Middle Grades Science

Enigma

Extraterrestrial Enigma
Classifying Extraterrestrials by Analysis of
Shared Characteristics

T
MATERIALS

paper, copy
copy of extraterrestrials
glue stick
pencil, colored, individual
scissors

wenty years after the touchdown of Curiosity on Mars, NASA has

successfully obtained a soil sample from a planet outside of our solar
system. We are not alone!

Astrobiologists are amazed at the diversity of life found in the sample. After
preliminary studies, scientists have agreed that the newly discovered organisms
share many characteristics with species found on Earth. This has led them to place
the organisms in the Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda,
and the newly defined Class Aliusmundisia (other-world).
You have been given the task to classify and create names for the family, genus,
and species levels for one of the orders within this class. The Order Ungulapoda
(claw-foot) is a diverse group with elaborate exoskeletons and clawed feet.
After careful observation of their physical traits, you should be able to establish
the divisions within this order based on similarities and differences among the
organisms.
PURPOSE

In this activity, you will organize the extraterrestrials into families, genera, and
species. You will also create scientific names for each species.

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Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial Enigma

PROCEDURE

1. Study the set of recently discovered extraterrestrials and carefully cut out
each individual.
2. Organize the extraterrestrials into families as you see fit. Within each family,
further subdivide the group into genus and species on the basis of similar
characteristics.
3. Once you have sorted the organisms into their respective families, genera
and species, neatly glue each group onto a sheet of paper provided by your
teacher. Leave plenty of room to write in family and scientific names above
each group and three shared traits below each group.
Note: family names end
with idae

4. Invent family names for each family you created. Write the family name
above each family.

Remember, this
consists of a two-part
name, genus and
species. The genus
name is capitalized,
the specific epithet is
not, and the scientific
name (genus + specific
epithet) is underlined or
italicized.

5. Create a scientific name for each species. When naming the species, try to
make them sound Latin, for example, Alienus strangus.
You should create six to ten scientific names depending upon how many
groups you have in your classification system. All individuals in the same
species should have the same scientific name.

Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.

Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial Enigma

CONCLUSION QUESTIONS

1. What difficulties did you experience in developing your classification

system? Describe at least two of these issues using evidence from your
extraterrestrials.

2. Explain why all extraterrestrials are not placed in the same family.

3. Explain how this activity illustrates the concept, Classification is the

grouping of objects based on similarities and differences.

4. Discuss one inherent problem with a classification scheme based only on

different physical characteristics.

5. The technique of DNA sequencing has enabled scientists to create large

databases of genome sequences for different organisms. How do you
think the ability to sequence an organisms entire genome could help more
accurately classify groups of organisms?

Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.

Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial Enigma

GOING FURTHER

During a mission to the planet, scientists discovered the ruins of an ancient

civilization. While excavating the site, they stumbled upon a book containing
descriptions of organisms found on the planet. Included within the book is a
dichotomous key for the small, soil-dwelling extraterrestrials that you have
classified and named. Use this key to identify the following specimens.

Figure 1. Specimen A

Name:

Figure 2. Specimen B

Name:

Figure 3. Specimen C

Name:

Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.

Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial Enigma

Figure 4. Dichotomous
key

1a.

Organism with unsegmented carapace: 2

1b.

Organism with segmented carapace: 9

2a.

Organism possesses opposing pincher-like claws: 3

2b.

Organism does not possess opposing pincher-like claws: 6

3a.

Unsegmented carapace has five openings: Legumen quinque

3b.

Unsegmented carapace does not have five openings: 4

4a.

Carapace is pointed at both ends: Legumen tetradium

4b.

Carapace is not pointed at both ends: 5

5a.

Carapace has four openings: Faba tetradium

5b.

Carapace does not have four openings: Faba tres

6a.

Organism possesses two sets of antennae: 7

6b.

Organism does not possess two sets of antennae: 8

7a.

Two prominent half-circles on carapace: Duocornus blattapoda

7b.

Does not have two prominent half-circles on carapace:

Duocornus caudexpoda

8a.

Antennae curl at ends: Tresbrachius diucornus

8b.

Antennae do not curl at ends: Cornus rimus

9a.

Carapace has two segments: 10

9b.

Carapace does not have two segments: 14

10a.

Carapace has one opening: Prinus unaforamen

10b.

Carapace has more than one opening: 11

11a.

Carapace has two openings: 12

11b.

Carapace has more than two openings: 13

12a.

Organism possesses rounded antennae: Ilex duolacuna

12b.

Organism does not possess rounded antennae: Ilex duoforamen

13a.

Carapace openings complete, smooth ovals: Balanus virdi

13b.

Carapace openings not complete, smooth ovals: Balanus iratus

14a.

Carapace with two openings: Scutum cavus

14b.

Carapace without two openings: 15

15a.

Carapace with single crescent shape marking: Scutum tres

15b.

Carapace without crescent shape marking: Scutum risio

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Middle Grades Science Extraterrestrial Enigma

L E S S O N

C O N S U M A B L E

ITEM 1 EXTRATERRESTRIAL SPECIMENS

Copyright 2013 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org.