Circle the animal that DOES NOT belong to the group. 1. Fish, mammals, reptiles, insects 2. Tadpole, salamander, frog, turtle 3. Hawk, eagle, ostrich, crow 4. Toad, gecko, snake, cat 5. Salmon, lamprey, tilapia, milkfish
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
1. Fish, mammals, reptiles, insects
Answer: Insects
Insects are invertebrates (no backbone), while fish, mammals, and reptiles are all vertebrates.
2. Tadpole, salamander, frog, turtle
Answer: Turtle
Turtles are reptiles, while tadpoles, salamanders, and frogs are amphibians.
3. Hawk, eagle, ostrich, crow
Answer: Ostrich
Ostrich cannot fly, while hawks, eagles, and crows are all capable of flight.
4. Toad, gecko, snake, cat
Answer: Cat
Cat is a mammal, while toad, gecko, and snake are cold-blooded animals—either amphibians or reptiles.
5. Salmon, lamprey, tilapia, milkfish
Answer: Lamprey
Lampreys are jawless fish with a very different anatomy compared to the other three, which are bony, jawed fish.
Explanation
In classification tasks like this, the key is to find the one item that does not share important biological traits with the others. In the first group, insects are fundamentally different because they are invertebrates, meaning they lack a backbone. Fish, mammals, and reptiles all have backbones and are vertebrates.
In the second group, tadpoles, salamanders, and frogs belong to the class Amphibia. They have a life cycle that involves metamorphosis, starting in water and often moving to land. The turtle, however, is a reptile. It lays shelled eggs on land and does not undergo metamorphosis.
In the third group, the ostrich stands out because it is flightless. Hawks, eagles, and crows are all strong fliers. While ostriches are birds, their lifestyle and structure are adapted to running rather than flying.
In the fourth group, the toad (an amphibian), gecko, and snake (both reptiles) are ectothermic animals. The cat is a mammal, warm-blooded and covered with fur, which makes it biologically distinct from the others.
In the fifth group, salmon, tilapia, and milkfish are all modern bony fishes with jaws and similar body structures. The lamprey, however, is an ancient jawless fish. It has a circular, sucker-like mouth and a skeleton made mostly of cartilage rather than bone.
Understanding animal groups helps us recognize evolutionary relationships and ecological roles. Each correct choice reflects a significant difference in biology or anatomy.
