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Shape of Life provides free teaching resources about the evolution of the animal kingdom. We offer short videos, lesson plans, features and news of animals on planet earth.
Phyla
The animal kingdom is one of six kingdoms of life on earth. Discover the greatest story ever told - the story of the animal kingdom and the eight major phyla that make up 99 percent of animals.
Features
Creature
Deep Sea Brittle Star
Important in the diverse deep-sea habitats where they live, brittle stars are ecosystem engineers, stirring-up sediment as they dig, recycling nutrients on the seafloor in the process. And they’re important prey of fish and various invertebrates including crabs and sea stars.
Deep Sea Brittle Star
Important in the diverse deep-sea habitats where they live, brittle stars are ecosystem engineers, stirring-up sediment as they dig, recycling nutrients on the seafloor in the process. And they’re important prey of fish and various invertebrates including crabs and sea stars.
Resource
New Lesson Plan - Artful Echinoderms
Students observe how an echinoderm creates its artistic body and behavior as a part of their adaptation and survival. Mimicking echinoderms, students create their own art to demonstrate how this beautiful creature survives.
New Lesson Plan - Artful Echinoderms
Students observe how an echinoderm creates its artistic body and behavior as a part of their adaptation and survival. Mimicking echinoderms, students create their own art to demonstrate how this beautiful creature survives.
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Scientist
Rich Mooi, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology California Academy of Sciences
Rich studies the evolution of echinoderms. The oldest echinoderm fossils date back to the Cambrian period, about 550 million years ago.
Rich Mooi, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology California Academy of Sciences
Rich studies the evolution of echinoderms. The oldest echinoderm fossils date back to the Cambrian period, about 550 million years ago.
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Did you Know?
High Seas Treaty To Protect Ocean Biodiversity
BIG NEWS: Nations came together to agree on the first-ever treaty to protect the biodiversity of the high seas.
High Seas Treaty To Protect Ocean Biodiversity
BIG NEWS: Nations came together to agree on the first-ever treaty to protect the biodiversity of the high seas.
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Blog
Biodiversity Blog
The earth is in its sixth mass extinction— the worst since the asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs and 50% of other species.
Biodiversity Blog
The earth is in its sixth mass extinction— the worst since the asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs and 50% of other species.
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