Ms. Buchalski / Date ______
The Study of Life on an Imaginary Creature
Due: ______
Imagine that you have just finished researching an organism that you found living deep within a foreign place. Now that you have finished studying all the characteristics of life for this creature, you are excited to add your organism to science textbooks all over the world.
Directions:
In a few descriptive sentences, you must describe the features of your living organism. Give your organism a name and stick to the characteristics of life numbered below to accurately describe the characteristics of this newly discovered organism. You must include a picture! See example on back of sheet and samples in class.
Characteristics of Life:
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Biology / Student Name______Per____Ms. Buchalski / Date ______
1. Organized
2. Made of Cells
3. Growth
4. Development
5. Reproduction
6. Response
7. Limited life span
8. Uses Energy
9. Materials
10. Living Space
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Biology / Student Name______Per____Ms. Buchalski / Date ______
*RUBRIC* for The Study of Life on an Imaginary Creature
Parts of Assignment / Your SCORE / Possible POINTS1. / 10 Characteristics of Life / 10 pts
2. / Creativity (Descriptions and Idea) / 2 pts
3. / Neatness (typed or neatly handwritten) / 2 pts
4. / Original Picture HANDDRAWN or CONSTRUCTED by YOU! (B/W or Outline=2; Colored In=2)
Dimensions: no larger than this paper, no smaller than this rubric……. / 4 pts
5. / Presentation / 2 pts
TOTALS / 20 pts
Imaginary Creature’s Name: Red-shelled Flailipede
By: Mrs. Salazar
1. Organized – The red-shelled flailipede has a shell that spirals in the shape of many flowers. The shell is soft and leathery and mimics the movement of petals when the wind blows. The Flailipede’s body is soft but has 6 pairs of legs that extend from its slimy body to move.
2. Made of Cells – The flailipede is multicellular.
3. Growth – The flailipede grows from a 1mm egg to an adult size of 4 cm in two years.
4. Development – The flailipede first glides around for the first few months until the legs grow in, starting with the backmost legs first, and the front legs last. At the same time, the shell grows in the same way a flower does, starting as a bud and then ‘blossoms’ into flowers.
5. Reproduction – The flailipede is able to reproduce once the shell flowers ‘blossom.’ These flowers hold the reproductive organs of the flailipedes, which are hermaphroditic. The ‘flowers’ are fertilized when bees land on the shells.
6. Response – When the sun comes out, the flailipede climbs up flower stalks and hides among other flowers so that the bees will land on the flower shells. Once fertilized, the flailipedes climb back down the stem to lay their eggs in the dirt at the base of the stems.
7. Limited life span – Flailipedes live for 5 years.
8. Uses Energy – Flailipedes eat the outside layer of stems and leaves by scraping it with rough parts of its tongue. This outer layer of the plants keeps them slimy for protection. In addition, they also eat flower buds. This gives them the energy to keep climbing up and down the plant stems.
9. Materials – Flailipedes breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. They need water and food every two hours, or they will dehydrate and die.
10. Living Space – Flailipedes spend their whole life time on one or two flowering bushes. They have to be careful of larger predators such as wild cheyters and jumping spircats.
I think you get the hint. Now go try it yourself!
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