Arkansas Mammal Skull Identification
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes mammals from other vertebrates?
Mammals have hair or fur and mammary glands that produce milk.
What are the four main chambers of the heart?
Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.
How many bones are in an adult human skeleton?
206, on average.
What is the pathway of deoxygenated blood entering the heart?
It enters through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium.
What are the 3 categories of insects in the order Hymenoptera?
BAW = Bees, Ants, and Wasps
Name one common mammal found in Arkansas known for its distinctive skull shape.
Depending on the explanation, but really The Eastern Cottontail, Red and Grey Foxes, Otter, and Beaver all have pretty unique skulls.
What is the function of the heart's valves?
To prevent backflow of blood and to ensure unidirectional flow.
Describe the function of ligaments in the skeletal system.
To stabilize joints by connecting bones together.
After the right ventricle, where does the blood go next?
It is pumped into the pulmonary trunk and arteries to the lungs.
What is a defining characteristic of Hymenoptera?
3 pairs of legs, 2 pairs of wings, stingers, 3 body segments
What feature of a skull helps identify a predator versus prey animal?
Predators typically have forward-facing eyes and larger canines for hunting.
The "big red guy," the highly muscular vessel on top of the heart, that takes blood away from the Left Ventricle is called what?
The Aorta
Name one structural shape commonly used in engineering to provide strength.
Triangles
Where does oxygenated blood return after leaving the lungs?
It returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary veins.
How do bees contribute to the ecosystem?
They pollinate plants, which is essential for food production.
Which skull structure is responsible for housing the brain?
The bones that compose the cranium.
The pulmonary trunk separates out into what?
The pulmonary arteries.
How does load distribution affect building design?
Proper load distribution ensures stability and prevents structural failure.
What is the sequence of blood flow from the left ventricle to the body?
Left ventricle → aorta → systemic circulation.
How does the social structure of Hymenopterans benefit their colonies?
Efficacy, Increased efficiency, resource management, protection and defense, etc.
What is special about the Zygomatic Arch as an identifying feature on a lot of mammal skulls?
From the size, thickness, and shape of the Zygomatic Arch, we can determine which muscles were primarily used for chewing, and due to its relative closeness to the orbital of the eyes, we can determine if the animal was a predator or prey animal/carnivore-omnivore or an herbivore.
What are the largest veins of the body?
The superior and inferior vena cava.
What is the speed of light in space?
Approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second).
What does blood have to pass through between the right atrium and the right ventricle?
The Tricuspid Valve
How do wasps benefit people like you and me?
They prey on and control populations of other pestulant species.