Summary
A ring of ensatina salamanders wraps around a valley, and the ones at the far ends look and act so differently they barely mix. Deep Look shows how small differences add up across a habitat -- a living look at how new kinds of animals can form.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
As ensatinas spread around the mountains, each group adapted to its local area with slightly different colors and traits. Those differences match different habitats and give each group an advantage where it lives.
- Why do ensatinas at opposite ends of the ring look different?
- How can small differences give animals an advantage in a place?
- How does living in different habitats lead to different traits?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: variation, trait, advantage, habitat.
Try it: Draw two salamanders with different colors for two habitats. Write how each color helps in its own place.