Synapsida

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/synapsida

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?Synapsida
2. What is the geological epoch of major diversification?Permian Period (299 to 252 million years ago)
3. What are synapsids and why are they important?Synapsids are a group of ancient animals that include all living mammals. They had a special opening in their skull that helped them eat better, and they are the ancestors of every mammal we know today.
4. Why did synapsids have a big opening in their skull?The opening, called a temporal fenestra, let them attach larger jaw muscles. This made their chewing stronger and more efficient than other reptiles.

Clade: A group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, including all of its descendants.
Synapomorphy: A shared derived characteristic that is unique to a particular group of organisms and their common ancestor.
Endothermy: The ability of an organism to generate and maintain its own body heat internally.
Mastication: The process of chewing food.