Most scientists believe an asteroid struck Earth 66 MYA. This is what killed the dinosaurs and let other types of animals take over.
Like other mammals, whales and dolphins have hair for at least part of their lives. Before birth, baby dolphins have whiskers along their snouts. After they are born, the hairs fall out. Unlike dolphins, humpback whales have hair throughout their lives. Scientists believe they use these hairs to sense water temperature and quality.
Select an activity below to download the PDF.
Making Connections
Text-to-Self
What part of the evolution of mammals surprised you the most? Please explain your answer.
Text-to-Text
Have you read any other books about animal evolution? What did the evolution of those animals have in common with mammal evolution?
Text-to-World
There are thousands of species of mammals in the world. With the help of an adult, look up information about your favorite mammal. Write a short paragraph explaining why it is your favorite.