entomology unit 1.2 questions with verified answers
Amber, What is it and why is it important for history of insects
Ans✓✓✓ Amber - a type of fossilization where the organisms is
trapped in biologically inert material (tree resin/sap) and are preserved
and keep their chemical composition.
It allows for much better preservation of insects because it allows more
detail of the organism's morphology
Be able to give a couple examples of an incorrect classification that has
been revised (Hint: "Crustacea") Ans✓✓✓ "Crustacea" no longer valid,
now Pancrustacea
Cambrian Explosion, What is it and when did it occur? Ans✓✓✓
Cambrian Explosion - first appearance of most major groups of animals
in the fossil record over a relatively short amount of time
541 - 525 Million Years Ago
Cephalization Ans✓✓✓ evolutionary trend towards the development
of the head and nervous system
Eurypterids Ans✓✓✓ Paleozoic Era, cholicerate group, commonly
referred to as sea scorpions
Exoskeleton Ans✓✓✓ external skeleton that supports and protects the
organism's body
, From what structures did the insect head evolve? Ans✓✓✓ Insect
head evolved from trunk segment fusion?
Hexapod Gap, What is the explanation for this? Ans✓✓✓ Hexapod gap
- Insect/hexapod fossils were extremely rare until 325 mya. Insects
were present but not very biodiverse, the evolution of wings changed
that and created a rapid increase in biodiversity and representation in
fossil records
How are arthropod eyes different than other animal eyes? Ans✓✓✓
They have many ommatidia and rather than image forming eyes, they
have light sensory eyes
How does the morphology of Protura differ from most insects? In what
niche would you be most likely to find Protura? Are proturans common
today? Ans✓✓✓ • Proturans are eye-less and antennae less
• Most likely found in parts of soil/leaf litter fauna
• They aren't that common
Key Innovations Ans✓✓✓ Compound eyes: started as synapomorphy
(evolved from common ancestor) and turned into symplesiomorphy
(shared by 2 or more common groups)
Head appendages: antennae used as sensory structure
Mouth parts: diverse jaws
Amber, What is it and why is it important for history of insects
Ans✓✓✓ Amber - a type of fossilization where the organisms is
trapped in biologically inert material (tree resin/sap) and are preserved
and keep their chemical composition.
It allows for much better preservation of insects because it allows more
detail of the organism's morphology
Be able to give a couple examples of an incorrect classification that has
been revised (Hint: "Crustacea") Ans✓✓✓ "Crustacea" no longer valid,
now Pancrustacea
Cambrian Explosion, What is it and when did it occur? Ans✓✓✓
Cambrian Explosion - first appearance of most major groups of animals
in the fossil record over a relatively short amount of time
541 - 525 Million Years Ago
Cephalization Ans✓✓✓ evolutionary trend towards the development
of the head and nervous system
Eurypterids Ans✓✓✓ Paleozoic Era, cholicerate group, commonly
referred to as sea scorpions
Exoskeleton Ans✓✓✓ external skeleton that supports and protects the
organism's body
, From what structures did the insect head evolve? Ans✓✓✓ Insect
head evolved from trunk segment fusion?
Hexapod Gap, What is the explanation for this? Ans✓✓✓ Hexapod gap
- Insect/hexapod fossils were extremely rare until 325 mya. Insects
were present but not very biodiverse, the evolution of wings changed
that and created a rapid increase in biodiversity and representation in
fossil records
How are arthropod eyes different than other animal eyes? Ans✓✓✓
They have many ommatidia and rather than image forming eyes, they
have light sensory eyes
How does the morphology of Protura differ from most insects? In what
niche would you be most likely to find Protura? Are proturans common
today? Ans✓✓✓ • Proturans are eye-less and antennae less
• Most likely found in parts of soil/leaf litter fauna
• They aren't that common
Key Innovations Ans✓✓✓ Compound eyes: started as synapomorphy
(evolved from common ancestor) and turned into symplesiomorphy
(shared by 2 or more common groups)
Head appendages: antennae used as sensory structure
Mouth parts: diverse jaws
