Final answer:
When an organism is large enough to view without a microscope, note size, shape, color, texture, and visible structures. Include a scale reference in sketches or photos.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an organism is large enough to be viewed with the unaided eye, several features should be noted. These include the organism's size, shape, color, texture, and any distinct structures that are visible. Additionally, if an organism is photographed or sketched, it is helpful to include a scale reference in the image, such as a coin or a ruler, to give a sense of the organism's size. Specimens should be handled with care and returned to their proper storage location, especially in a lab setting, to ensure they are preserved for future examination.
While many microorganisms require a microscope to view and study due to their small size often less than 100 micrometers (µm), there are many multicellular organisms that are visible to the unaided eye. These organisms have cells that are commonly 10-100 µm in their maximum dimension, and the organism's overall size can be much larger depending on the number of cells it accumulates.