Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Station 1 – Digestive System
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans digestive systems using the graphic organizer below.
Digestive System Dolphins Humans Which organs are present? Are they all the same or are there differences?
Describe the differences between a human stomach and a dolphin stomach. Why do you think dolphins have a stomach with different chambers?
Are dolphins or humans more efficient at digesting food? Explain your reasoning.
Station 2 – Respiratory System Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Compare and contrast dolphins and humans respiratory systems using the graphic organizer below.
Respiratory System Dolphins Humans Which organs are present? Are they all the same or are there differences?
Who is more efficient at breathing, humans or dolphins? Use evidence to support your conclusion.
Where is oxygen stored?
Why do you think the main storage areas are different?
Station 3 – Sound Production/Communication
Compare and contrast how dolphins and humans produce sounds using the graphic organizer below. Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Communication Dolphins Humans Where are the vocal cords located in the human body? Do dolphins have vocal cords?
How do dolphins and humans produce sound?
Based on the diagrams, can dolphins make more sounds than humans?
Now go to the website: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/acoustics/sounds.html and listen to the different sounds dolphins make.
Station 4 – Circulatory System
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans circulatory system using the graphic organizer below. Circulatory System Dolphins Humans Which organs are present? Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Are they all the same or are there differences?
How is body temperature maintained?
What are the functions of the circulatory system?
Station 5 – Nervous System
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans nervous systems using the graphic organizer below.
Listen to Dr. Lori Marino talk about the dolphins brain at the website: http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/dolphin-brains/ and complete the questions below Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Nervous System Dolphins Humans What are some differences between dolphins and human brains?
What are some ways that intelligence can be measured in animals and humans?
How would you define "intelligence"? Do you think it's possible to compare the intelligence of two different species? Why or why not?
Station 5 – Sensory System
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans sensory systems using the graphic organizer below.
Go to the website: http://www.dolphin-institute.org/resource_guide/dolphin_perception.htm to learn about the dolphins’ senses and complete the questions below. Sensory System Dolphins Humans List the sensory organs of humans and dolphins. Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans Are they the same?
Which sense is more important for dolphins? For humans? Why?
Station 6 – Support System – Muscular and Skeletal
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans support systems using the graphic organizer below.
Support System Dolphins Humans Where are the strongest muscles located? Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans
List some interesting bones?
Look at the human scapula, arm and finger bones. Describe the differences between dolphins arm bones and humans arm bones
Station 7 – Integumentary System
Compare and contrast dolphins and humans integumentary systems using the graphic organizer below.
Integumentary System Dolphins Humans Describe the integumentary systems Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans
What are the functions of the integumentary system in dolphins? What about in humans?
Why do you thick dolphins have thicker hypodermis?
Thought Question – Extra Credit
After all you learned about dolphins, what is the one adaptation they have that you would like to have? Why?
Names: Block Date:
Comparative Anatomy Lab – Dolphins vs. Humans
Name:
After all you learned about dolphins, what is the one adaptation they have that you would like to have? Why?
Name: