Jaws

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/jaws

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name (great white shark)?Carcharodon carcharias
2. What is the conservation status (great white shark)?Vulnerable
3. What are jaws and why are they important for animals?Jaws are strong tools that let animals bite, eat, and sometimes talk. They helped animals become better predators and survive.
4. How did jaws first appear in animals?About 400-450 million years ago, early fish changed parts that held gills into jaws, giving them a new way to bite and grab food.

Gnathostomes: The group of vertebrates characterized by the presence of jaws.
Pharyngeal Arches: Embryonic structures that develop into various head and neck features, including jaws.
Niche: The role and position a species has in its environment; how it meets its needs for food and shelter.
Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity.