Scribd
Upload
849 views

Classification - Whales

This document discusses classifying whales based on different features and evidence. It notes that whales are mammals that belong to the cetacean group. Cetaceans are split into four groups based on features like whether they have baleen plates, teeth, or use echolocation. New DNA evidence in the 1990s showed that the traditional classification was not fully accurate and needed revision based on genetic relationships between species. The document emphasizes that classifications can change as new evidence emerges and that conclusions should be based on available evidence.

Uploaded by

api-3800318
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
849 views

Classification - Whales

This document discusses classifying whales based on different features and evidence. It notes that whales are mammals that belong to the cetacean group. Cetaceans are split into four groups based on features like whether they have baleen plates, teeth, or use echolocation. New DNA evidence in the 1990s showed that the traditional classification was not fully accurate and needed revision based on genetic relationships between species. The document emphasizes that classifications can change as new evidence emerges and that conclusions should be based on available evidence.

Uploaded by

api-3800318
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

Module B3 Life on Earth

IB3.2 Follow the evidence


B3 Life on Earth

• Whales are mammals.


• All mammals share some features.
B3 Life on Earth

• Whales belong to a group of mammals called the


Cetacea.
• Cetacea have two features that other mammals
don’t have.
B3 Life on Earth

Cetacean group Baleen plates? Teeth? Echo-location?

Baleen Yes No No

Sperm No Teeth in lower Yes


jaw only

Other toothed No Many teeth Yes

Beaked No Few teeth Yes

• Cetaceans are split into four groups.


• Click if you want to know more about baleen plates
and echo-location.
B3 Life on Earth

• Which of these ways of classifying whales is the


most sensible?
• Use the evidence in the last slide to help you.
B3 Life on Earth

• From the evidence so far, baleen whales are more


different.
• There are 11 species of baleen whale.
• They include blue whales and sperm whales.
• Click if you want to know more about baleen whales.
B3 Life on Earth

• But in the 1990s new


evidence was found. Q5, Q6
• Scientists looked at DNA
from 16 species of
cetaceans.
• The DNA showed that:
- Sperm whales were
more closely related
to baleen whales
than other groups.
- Beaked whales are
only distantly related
to any of the other
groups.
• Look back at the your
choice for classifying
whales. Which way of
classifying seems best
now? Do you need to
change your mind?
B3 Life on Earth

Discuss with a colleague

• What is this lesson about?

• Suggest a suitable lesson objective(s) and outcomes


for this lesson.
B3 Life on Earth

• Changing your ideas doesn’t mean that you were


wrong the first time. You just didn’t have enough
information.
• It also doesn’t mean that the new ideas are
definitely right. Any conclusion is only as good as
the evidence behind it.
B3 Life on Earth

• You can get up to date information about whale


classification here.
• There’s more background information on whales
here.

You might also like