Vestigial Structures Worksheet
Explore vestigial structures in organisms, their evolutionary significance, and examples in humans and other species.
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Vestigial Structures: Evidence of Evolution
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Read each question carefully and provide your best answer based on your understanding of vestigial structures and evolution.
1. Which of the following best defines a vestigial structure?
A structure that has evolved to perform a new function.
A structure that is fully functional and essential for survival.
A structure that has lost all or most of its original function over evolutionary time.
A structure that is present in all organisms and has no known purpose.
2. Vestigial structures provide evidence for by showing common ancestry.
3. The human appendix is considered a structure.
4. Describe how the presence of vestigial structures supports the theory of evolution.
5. All vestigial structures are completely useless and have no remaining function.
True
False
6. Observe the image below of a whale skeleton. Identify and explain the vestigial structures you can find in its skeletal system.
Match each vestigial structure with its likely ancestral function.
7. Human coccyx
a. Digestion of cellulose
8. Wisdom teeth
b. Grinding tough plant material
9. Human appendix
c. Tail for balance and locomotion