Lesson Sequencing Guide Since the classroom teacher knows his or her students best, the teacher should decide the sequencing of lessons. The suggested sequencing guide below is based on 45 minute class periods. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Week 1 Lesson One: Exploring the Geologic Time Scale via Changes in Fossilized Horse Teeth in Response to of Plants Lesson One: Exploring the Geologic Time Scale via Changes in Fossilized Horse Teeth in Response to of Plants LESSON TWO: Examining Intraspecies Variation and Changes in a Single Horse Population LESSON THREE: Proposing Changes to Orthogenesis and Communicating Evolution in Museums (Optional Presentations) LESSON THREE: Proposing Changes to Orthogenesis and Communicating Evolution in Museums
Neohipparion trampasense UF 62299 5 Bone Valley, Polk County, Florida Dinohippus mexicanus UF 124196 Neohipparion eurystyle UF 208601 Nannipus aztecus UF 302417 2 Santa Fe River Bed, Columbia County, Florida Nannipus peninsulatus UF 22614 Haile Site 15A, Alachua County, Florida Equus simplicidens UF-TRO 2072 0.1 Waccasassa River Site 9, Levy County, Florida Equus ferus fraternus Actual specimen Answer Key: Lesson 1 Horse Tooth Data Table Age (Ma) Location Species Catalog Number Crown Height (mm) APL (mm) HI (height/ APL) 55 Wyoming Hyracotherium sp. 03-1054 2.9 mm 6.1 mm 0.48 33 Nebraska Mesohippus sp. UF 137889 9.2 mm 13.8mm 0.67 18 Thomas Farms, Gilchrist County, Florida Anchitherium clarencei UF 11268 12.6mm 19.9mm 0.63 Parahippus leonensis Actual specimen varied varied ~0.90-1.05 Archaeohippus blackbergi Actual specimen varied varied ~0.70-0.85 Parahippus barbouri UF 270648 14.6mm 16.1mm 0.91 9 Love Site, Alachua County, Florida Calippus elachistus UF 53577 35.0mm 13.9mm 2.52 Calippus cerasinus UF 60323 36.2mm 17.2mm 2.11 Neohipparion trampasense UF 62299 48.2mm 21.4mm 2.25
Unknown Fossil # Crown Height (mm) Anterior Posterior Length (mm) HI (actual crown height/actual APL) measured conversion factor actual measured conversion factor actual 1 x _____ x _____ 2 x _____ x _____ 3 x _____ x _____ 4 x _____ x _____ 5 x _____ x _____ 6 x _____ x _____ Based on your measurements determine if these fossils are from the same species or different species? Justify your answer. Calculate the average HI index of all 6 teeth. Record in the data chart above. Using the data you collected yesterday identify what species the teeth came from. Explain how you arrived at your conclusion. Part II Examine the top surface of the fossils. Draw what you see in the boxes below. Use the Horse Tooth Variation Guide below to assist you in identifying structures commonly used by vertebrate paleontologists. For each tooth write whether the protocone is connected, isolated, or somewhere in between and whether the plications are complex, simple, or intermediate. Image adapted from The Pony Express Florida Fossil Horse Newsletter, Volume 1, Number 3, 3rd Quarter--September 1992
Horse Species Range Cards Name: Hyracotherium Epoch: Eocene Years of Existence: 55-45 mya Size: ~20cm tall Name: Mesohippus Epoch: Eocene to Oligocene Years of Existence: 37-32 mya Size: ~60cm tall Name: Parahippus leonensis Epoch: Late Oligocene to Miocene Years of Existence: 23-16 mya Size: between 48-124kg (110-270lbs) Name: Anchitherium clarencei Epoch: Miocene Years of Existence: 26-10 mya Size: ~60cm tall Name: Archaeohippus blackbergi Epoch: Miocene Years of Existence: 21-13 mya Size: ~61cm tall