Activity Sheet A - Getting Sorted (Cont) Diet (in the wild) Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore Habitat Terrestrial/ground dwelling Arboreal/tree living Aqua

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1 Activity Sheet A - Getting Sorted Duration: 45 minutes Locate the animals listed below and find out their scientific name. Remember that the scientific name is usually written in italics or is underlined. Classify these animals according to the groupings in the tables on this page and the following page (note: only use the LETTER for each animal, not the animal s name) Common Name Scientific Name (Genus species) A. Silvery Gibbon B. Southern White Rhino C. Asian Elephant D. Western Swamp Tortoise E. Dugite F. Little Penguins G. Sumatran Orangutan H. Cheetah I. Green Tree Frog J. Oriental Small-clawed Otter K. Reticulated Python L. Nepalese Red Panda M. Red-tailed Black Cockatoo N. Perentie Body Covering Moist skin Dry Scales Wet Scales Feathers Fur/Hair Distribution Africa Asia Australia

2 Activity Sheet A - Getting Sorted (Cont) Diet (in the wild) Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore Habitat Terrestrial/ground dwelling Arboreal/tree living Aquatic/water living Vertebrate Class (only considering 5 basic groupings) Fish Amphibia Reptilia Mammalia Aves Despite their similarities, Fish are only an informal collection of diverse animals. They can be more correctly classified into three classes Osteichthyes (bony fish), Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) and Agnatha (jawless fish) respectively. Back at school List taxonomic features that all of the animals in your list would share. Which level of classification would be used to sum up these shared features? Explain why the scientific or taxonomic name is used by scientists around the world rather than the common names. Why do we use structural characteristics in biological classification?

3 Activity Sheet B - Mammal Classification Duration: 45 minutes Visit the Australian Bushwalk to observe two different species of kangaroo. These animals cannot always be successfully identified on the basis of their colour. Find a western Grey Kangaroo and a Red Kangaroo and then complete the following table. Hint: You will need to use your own observations and the information on the signage in the exhibit. Common name Red Kangaroo Western Grey Kangaroo Muzzle Marking Nose Shape Possible body colour Visit the Primates area to observe the animals listed below. You will need to take on the role of a zoologist who has just discovered several new species of primates. Provide a clear written description for each of the primates and draw a branching dichotomous key, in the space provided to identify each of the five examples of primates. Ring-tailed Lemur White-fronted Capuchin Bolivian Squirrel Monkey

4 Activity Sheet B - Mammal Classification (cont) Cotton-top Tamarin Emperor Tamarin Draw your branching dichotomous key in the space below.

5 Activity Sheet B - Mammal Classification (cont) Back at school Complete the table below to examine the unique reproductive features of the three mammalian sub-classes. Sub-class Unique reproductive feature Animal observed at Perth Zoo Prototheria (Monotremes) Metatheria (Marsupial) Eutheria (Placental) There are very few placental mammals who are native to Australia. How do you think they originally arrived here? Hint: consider seals, rodents, bats and dingoes.

6 Activity Sheet C - Reptile Classification Duration: 20 minutes Perth Zoo houses reptiles from three of the four reptile orders. Visit the Reptile Encounter. Two of the three reptile orders at Perth Zoo can be found in this exhibit. Carry out observation of the reptiles and note down features that are unique to each group. *Visit the Australian Wetland to locate representatives of the third reptile order. Class: Reptilia Order: Sphenodontia, e.g., Tuataras *No representatives at Perth Zoo Order: Order: Testudines (Turtles and tortoises) Order: Squamata Sub-order: Sauria (Lizards) Sub-order: Serpentes (Snakes)

7 Activity Sheet D - Amphibians Duration: 20 min Visit the frogs at the entrance to the Australian Wetlands exhibit. Frogs belong to the Class Amphibia. Frogs can live in a variety of habitats. These habitats include trees, wet swampy areas, moist forests or underground burrows in drier sandy areas. There are two families of frog that occur around Perth. These are tree frogs and ground frogs. What structural differences do they have relating to their adaptations for these two very different environments? (Hint: look at their feet) Tree frogs Ground frogs What body shape do you think would suit a tree frog and a burrowing frog? Why? List the scientific names of two species of tree frogs that can be found in Perth Zoo. and Do you think they are closely related? Why? Back at school Biologists studying frogs may not always be able to locate the individual animals in a wetland. Which frog feature can biologists use to identify the types of frogs without actually seeing the specific animal? Provide some examples.

8 Appendix 1 Learn the Lingo Several terms and phrases are commonly used when discussing classification. Find out the meaning of the following terms and phrases to expand on your biological vocabulary. Anatomy Binomial nomenclature Biodiversity Biological key Classification Carapace Dichotomous key Genus Hybrid Jacobson s organ Sloughing Species Subspecies Taxa Taxonomy Vertebrate