OneZoom Tree of Life Explorer

The OneZoom Tree of Life Explorer is an interactive visualization that displays the evolutionary relationships between over two million species. Each leaf represents a species, while the branching structure shows how all life shares common ancestors across billions of years.

1. Open the OneZoom Tree of Life Explorer in a web browser.
2. Begin by zooming into a branch of interest, such as mammals, plants, or insects.
3. Click on individual leaves to view species information and images.
4. Follow the branching paths to explore how species are connected through evolutionary history.
5. Take a guided tour if desired, which highlights groups like great apes, birds, or flowering plants.
6. Experiment with zooming in and out to see both large-scale relationships and fine details.

💻 OneZoom: https://www.onezoom.org/

• Use guided tours to focus on specific groups such as sharks, cephalopods, or hummingbirds.
• Sponsor a leaf to personalize the tree with your name or dedication.
• Embed the visualization into a classroom or museum display.

• No safety precautions required

• What does the branching pattern tell us about common ancestors? (It shows how species diverged from shared evolutionary origins.)
• Why do some groups of species have many branches while others have fewer? (This reflects different rates of diversification and extinction over time.)
• How does exploring the tree help us understand biodiversity and conservation? (It highlights the vast interconnectedness of species and emphasizes the importance of protecting ecosystems.)
• Why might visualizations like OneZoom be more effective for learning than static diagrams? (They allow interactive, zoomable exploration that reveals complexity and scale in a more intuitive way.)