Field Museum

A penguin may not seem similar to a Tyrannosaurus rex , however when we look carefully at traits like leg bones, back bones, and skull forms, we find many similarities. In this resource kit, you will investigate the similarities between living and extinct organisms and explore which species today are dinosaurs’ closest living relatives. You will examine three focal animals, and use your observations to construct a tree to depict the relatedness between these three animals.

As you explore the collections images throughout this resource kit, consider the following question:

Why do you think studying body features is important to understanding relationship between animals?

Today's Dinos

Make note of structural similarities and differences as you explore the feet structures of the three organisms featured in this slideshow: Alligator, Deinonychus, and Penguin. 

Feet

Use these images and reconstructions to make observations about these three animals' skin or body coverings. 

Skin / Body Cover

Fill in the Venn diagram using the information you collected during your investigation of the three animals throughout the past five activities!

Plotting Similarities and Differences

Use this chart to keep track of your observations as you explore the slideshows in this resource kit.

Document your Observations

Use these images and reconstructions to make observations about these three animals'  tails and hip structure. 

Tail and Hips

Use these images to observe and document similarities and differences in the skull structure of these three animals. 

Skulls

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram depicting the evolutionary relationships between different species. Organisms connected by vertexes appearing higher up on this phylogenetic tree are more closely related. 

Constructing a Phylogeny

These three animals all use eggs for reproduction. Document your observations about the similarities and differences between these animals' eggs. 

Eggs

Explore the similarities and differences between dinosaurs and their closest modern relatives.

 - PDF version of the activities in this resource kit. 

Read more about the relationship between Birds and Dinosaurs

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Today's Dinos

Today's Dinos