Dangerous Aussie Animals by Teacher Superstore

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Ready-Ed

Publications

Acknowledgements i. I-stock Photos. ii. Clip art images have been obtained from Microsoft Design Gallery Live and are used under the terms of the End User License Agreement for Microsoft Word 2000. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/permission. iii. Wikimedia Commons.

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Cover Acknowledgements Blue-ringed Octopus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hapalochlaena_lunulata2.JPG

The purchasing educational institution and its staff have the right to make copies of the whole or part of this book, beyond their rights under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act), provided that: 1.

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Copies are not sold or lent;

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The Act allows a maximum of one chapter or 10% of the pages of this book, whichever is the greater, to be reproduced and/or communicated by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that that

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Except as otherwise permitted by this blackline master licence or under the Act (for example, any fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review) no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. All inquiries should be made to the publisher at the address above.

o c . che e r o t r s super Published by: Ready-Ed Publications PO Box 276 Greenwood WA 6024 www.readyed.com.au info@readyed.com.au

ISBN: 978 1 86397 791 3 2

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Any copying of this book by an educational institution or its staff outside of this blackline master licence may fall within the educational statutory licence under the Act.

Reproduction and Communication by others

Contents 4 5

Box JellyFish - Information Sheet 1 Terrifying Tentacles Design A Sign Boxy Box Jellyfish Interview A Victim

6 7 8 9 10

Box JellyFish - Information Sheet 2 Box Jellyfish Up Close Friends In The Ocean

11 12 13

Blue-Ringed Octopus - Information Sheet 1 Paralysing Bite 1 Paralysing Bite 2 I Lived To Tell The Story

14 15 16 17

Blue-Ringed Octopus - Information Sheet 2 Amazing Octopus 1 Amazing Octopus 2 Papier-Mâché Blue-Ringed Octopus Dangerous Pet

18 19 20 21 22

Stingrays - Information Sheet 1 Stabbing Stingrays 1 Stabbing Stingrays 2

23 24 25

Stingrays - Information Sheet 2 Stingray Statistics Studying Stingrays Stingray Search

26 27 28 29

Brown Snakes - Information Sheet 1 Snakey Statistics 1 Snakey Statistics 2

30 31 32

Brown snakes - Information Sheet 2 SSSSSSSnakes 1 SSSSSSSnakes 2 Design An Enclosure For A Brown Snake

33 34 35 36

Saltwater Crocodiles - Information Sheet 1 Saltie Statistics 1 Saltie Statistics 2

37 38 39

The Saltwater Crocodile - Information Sheet 2 Studying Salties 1 Studying Salties 2 Design A Sign Trading Cards

40 41 42 43 44

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Teacher Notes Curriculum Links

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Answers

45-46 3

Teachers’ Notes

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Dangerous Aussie Animals is designed to help students understand more about the animals that share their world. Through this understanding, students should begin to value and respect living things and their environments, and interact with them responsibly. They should begin to recognise that animals usually only threaten humans when they feel threatened themselves and feel more able to make informed decisions if they ever find themselves in hazardous situations. By looking closely at five of Australia’s most deadly and fascinating animals, students will begin to develop an understanding of the biology of living things, such as how their physical characteristics help them to move, grow, reproduce, survive and meet their needs. This book also encourages students to consider how changes in physical environments require animals to adapt and change themselves. Recognition of the interdependence in life is also examined.

© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons This book helps students to learn by being engaged, as it is written to •f o r ev i e wp u r poand se sAnswers onl y fascinate andr amaze. The activities are practical fun. are •

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provided at the back of the book to make life easy for the teacher.

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Curriculum Links NSW (Science and Technology) Living Things - Stage 3 Describe Features of Living Things - Stage 4 (4.8)

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TAS (Science) Science as a Body of Knowledge – Living Things - Standards 3 & 4

NT (Science) Life and Living - Bands 3 & 4 Earth and Beyond - Bands 3 & 4 QLD (Science) Life and Living - ELS – Year 7

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ACT (Science) ELA 19 The student understands and applies scientific knowledge

VIC (Science) Knowledge and Understanding - Levels 4 & 5

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WA (Science) (8) Life and Living

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I n fo r m Sheeta tion 1

Box JellyFish

Nice To Meet You

Ahhhhhhhhhh. When stung by box jellyfish, the pain is said to be excruciating. In fact many people go into shock from the severity of the pain and drown. Of course the degree of pain felt depends on the size of the box jellyfish, how much venom is released, the amount of tentacles involved, the size of the victim (children are more vulnerable) and also on where the victim is stung. A person stung on the chest for example, is likely to suffer greater injuries than a person stung on the ankle.

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Australian box jellyfish belong to the Cubozoa class of animals.

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Australian box jellyfish are renowned for being the most venomous marine animals known to humankind. They have killed more people in Australia than sharks, snakes and saltwater crocs put together! As well as box jellyfish, they also answer to chironex fleckeri, boxfish, sea wasp, fire medusa, or just stinger.

Ouch!

First Aid

Deadly

When stinging away, the tentacles of box jellyfish stick to their victims' skin. Attempting to remove the One jellyfish contains tentacles can mean that more toxic venom is released and lead to enough toxin to kill Box jellyfish are like ghosts in the greater injuries. Pouring vinegar over ocean, as they are made up of 60 people! the tentacles will take the sting out of 95% water. Their transparent pale them. Most Australian beaches where blue colour makes them pretty much box jellyfish are known to lurk, will have invisible in their environment, so they are vinegar in their first aid kits. Once victims are free easy to swim into. Not helping matters is the of the tentacles, mild stings can be treated with fact that their box-shaped bodies can grow ice, painkillers and antihistamines. If a victim up to 30 centimetres in diameter (about the is having difficulty breathing, swallowing, has size of a basketball) and their tentacles can extensive skin damage or has gone into cardiac grow up to three metres in length. Their size arrest, an antivenin must be given, usually within means that many an unsuspecting swimmer minutes. While waiting for antivenin to arrive, a has swam into their long tentacles and pressure immobilisation bandage can help. CPR become entangled. Box jellyfish have around may also need to be performed. 60 tentacles. They have approximately 15 Did You tentacles on each side of their box-shaped Know? bodies. On each tentacle lies thousands of deadly stinging cells (nematocysts). These Australia is one of the few countries to display signs on stinging cells are activated when they come beaches which warn swimmers about box jellyfish. Countries into contact with certain chemicals which such as Thailand think that signs will affect tourism and they exist on the surface of fish, shellfish and us! have been known to cover up deaths caused by box jellyfish as So if you are unlucky enough to swim into drug overdoses! There are estimated to be between one and their arms, you may be stung to death. two hundred deaths annually caused by box jellyfish in the

What Makes THEM Deadly?

} Fact }

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Danger rating

How dangerous do you think box jellyfish are? Colour in the danger rating just for fun.

Rate box jellyfish Misunderstood! I want one for a pet.

Dare me to swim with one.

Increasing danger

Enter water at own risk.

Deadly dangerous! Stay on the shore.

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Terrifying Tentacles Read about box jellyfish on page 6 to help you complete the following.

Questions 1. What feature of a box jellyfish makes it hard to see in the water? _ _________________________ 2. What is a nematocyst?_____________________________________________________________

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3. When is a nematocyst activated?_ ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Draw and label the items needed in a doctor’s first aid box that is designed to deal with a box jellyfish’s sting.

Create a Scale

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4. Is a box jellyfish's sting painful?______________________________________________________

Draw some tentacles on the box jellyfish below and create a scale to show the length of a real life tentacle. E.g. One metre = three centimetres. Include and label its nematocysts.

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Scale 7

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Design A sign Read about box jellyfish on page 6 to help you complete the following.

Design a sign which will warn and educate swimmers at a local beach about box jellyfish.

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First, brainstorm some words that you can use on your sign.

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Boxy box Jellyfish Read about box jellyfish on page 6 to help you complete the following.

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false. 1. The box jellyfish is made up of 80% water.  True  False

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2. The box jellyfish is only found in Australia.  True  False

3. The box jellyfish has around 60 tentacles (15 on each side of its body).  True  False

Fact 1

Write

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4. The box jellyfish bites.  True  False

Colour in red the parts of the human body which, if stung, are likely to result in severe injuries. Colour in yellow the parts of the human body which, if stung, are less likely to lead to severe injuries.

Write three facts about box jellyfish in the spaces provided.

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Draw an everyday object that you think feels like a box jellyfish on the back of this sheet.

Interview a victim Your Task

Imagine that you are a TV or newspaper reporter interviewing an eyewitness of an extremely dangerous attack by a box jellyfish. Create a list of interesting questions to ask the eyewitness.

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Draw a picture which relates to an interesting part of the event.

Name of Victim_______________ Injuries Suffered _____________ __________________________

Question 1_ ______________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________ Question 2_ ______________________________________________________________

. te o c Question 3_ ______________________________________________________________ . c e her r ________________________________________________________________________ o t s super ________________________________________________________________________

Question 4_ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Question 5_ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

I n fo r m Sheeta tion 2

Box JellyFish

Box Jellyfish Hangout

Box Jellyfish Powers Although we have great difficulty seeing box jellyfish, they can see us perfectly. On each side of their four-sided bodies, they have a cluster of six eyes, meaning they have 24 eyes altogether. Some of these eyes are extremely sophisticated. As well as having great vision, box jellyfish are quick and agile. They can propel themselves in jet-like motions to reach speeds of up to three to four knots. This means that they can travel approximately two metres per second! They do this by filling their bodies with water and pushing this water out again using their coronal muscles.

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Deadly Fact

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If you want to avoid being stung by box jellyfish, as well as donning a stinger suit and swimming at beaches which use nets, it may be an idea to learn about where they like to hang out. Box jellyfish are found in the tropical oceans around northern Australia. They like to mingle in shallow estuaries, creeks and river mouths after it has rained. You’re unlikely to bump into any in deep waters, rough seas, near coral reefs and in areas laden with sea grass or weed. Although you need to watch out for box jellyfish all year round, victims are larger in number during the A box jellyfish's tentacle wet season which runs from that is detached from its November to April. body will still sting you if you touch it!

Box Jellyfish Hit List

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The good news is that box jellyfish don't like to snack on people. Small fish (especially crustaceans, such as shrimp and crabs) and other jellyfish, rate as their favourite meals. A box jellyfish will avoid being torn by its prey by killing its prey first with its venomous sting. It will then contract its tentacles to put food into its mouth which is located in the underside of its body. However many experts believe that box jellyfish rarely have to actively hunt their food, because food usually runs into their long tentacles.

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Butterfish, batfish, rabbitfish and turtles like to eat box jellyfish for dinner. Turtles can eat box jellyfish easily as they are not affected by their toxic stings.

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Know?

Cute little baby box jellyfish are born in late summer at river mouths. Ahhhh. When born they are known as polyps. Polyps attach themselves to rocks and in spring develop into mini box jellyfish which are about one and a half millimetres in size. 11

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Box Jellyfish UP close Read about box jellyfish on page 11 to help you complete the following.

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Here are two beakers of water. Draw a box jellyfish in the water that you think it would like to live.

2. The box jellyfish has a v________________ sting.

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1. Where does the box jellyfish like to hang out?__________________________________________

3. Up to what speeds can the box jellyfish travel?_ ________________________________________

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4. Name the calendar months when the box jellyfish does the most stinging.

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_______________________________________________________________________________

5. What do you call a baby box jellyfish?_________________________________________________ 6. Explain why the box jellyfish does not often have to hunt for food._________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Complete Three Food Chains 1.

eat

Box Jellyfish

eat

Box Jellyfish

eat

Box Jellyfish

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Friends in the ocean

Bazza the box jellyfish is trying to find a friend on ocean-net (an Internet site for marine animals). Read his profile then create the profile of an ocean friend for Bazza below. Profile 1 Type of marine animal: Box Jellyfish

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Likes:

Baby box jellyfish, shallow waters

Dislikes:

Turtles, vinegar, sea grass and weedy areas

Dining out:

Shrimp please

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Name:

Favourite sayings: Watch where you’re going! Bump into me again and you’ll know about it! Strengths:

Speed and vision

Weaknesses:

Swimming in deep waters and deep seas

Achievements:

Killed more people than any other dangerous animal in Australia

Likes:

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Favourite sayings:

Other interests:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Achievements:

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Blue-Ringed Octopus Ouch!

nice to meet you You can take your pick of blue-ringed octopuses because there are three known species. Maculosa is the southern blue-ringed octopus, lunulata is the greater blue-ringed octopus and fasciata is the blue-lined octopus.

Blue-ringed octopuses belong to the Octopodidae family.

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Blue-ringed octopuses are known for being among the most toxic sea creatures in the world. Although they only live until they are two years of age, they can do some extensive damage in their lifetimes.

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Their bite is usually painless, but the effects of the paralysing venom are horrific. Ten to fifteen minutes after being bitten, victims will experience numbness around their mouths, which soon spreads to their faces and necks. They will begin to have trouble breathing, swallowing and speaking. They will also feel sick and often go temporarily blind. They will be aware of their surroundings but may appear dead as they will be unable to react or move. Their bodies may then go into respiratory arrest. If victims are treated immediately after they have been bitten, they can recover. If they do not seek medical help, death is inevitable.

Deadly } Fact }

First Aid

One blue-ringed octopus has enough poison to paralyse 26 adults in three minutes!

Unlike box jellyfish, no antivenin © R e a d y E d P u b l i c at i ns is available ino Australia!! What Makes THEM The only treatment is hours Deadly? •f orr evi ew pur po emassage son y• of s heart andl artificial The venom of blue-ringed octopuses

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The venom is found in their saliva which is released into the human body when they bite fingers or hands which prod them or attempt to lift them, or feet which step on them! The venom is deadly.

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Moments before blue-ringed octopuses bite, electric blue rings will appear on their brown and yellow skin, making them deadly beauties.

Danger rating

respiration, which should be performed until the poison has worked its way out of the victim’s system. Pressure-immobilization and mouth to mouth resuscitation can keep the victim alive until the poison wears off.

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contains tetrodotoxin (te-tro-do-tox-in), a poison more violent than any other poison found in land animals.

How dangerous do you think blue-ringed octopuses are? Colour in the danger rating just for fun.

Know?

The venom of pufferfish also contains tetrodotoxin. The first recorded case of tetrodotoxin poisoning is from Captain James Cook’s diaries in 1774. He noted that his crew ate some local fish (pufferfish) and fed the remains to the pigs on-board the ship. The crew experienced numbness and shortness of breath, while the pigs were all found dead the next morning!

Rate blue-ringed octopuses Misunderstood! I want one for a pet.

Dare me to swim with one.

Increasing danger

Don't touch!

Deadly Dangerous! Stay on the shore.

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Paralysing Bite 1 Read about blue-ringed octopuses on page 14 to help you complete the following.

Questions 1. List the three known species of the blue-ringed octopus._______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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2. When does the blue-ringed octopus show its electric blue rings?_ _______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Does it hurt when a blue-ringed octopus bites?_ _____________________________________

show symptoms of being bitten?

Label the effects of a blue-ringed octopus’ venom on the human body below. One has been done for you. Indicate where the saliva enters the body.

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4. If you were bitten by a blue-ringed octopus at 3 pm, what time would it be when you start to

________________________________________________

Imagine

Imagine that you are a forensic scientist. You need to carry out an autopsy on a body which has fallen victim to a blueringed octopus. Complete the profile of the victim below.

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Where bitten: Where found:

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Bitten by:

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First aid attempted: Yes No Antivenin given:

Yes No

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Read about blue-ringed octopuses on page 14 to help you complete the following. Write three facts about blue-ringed octopuses in the circles provided.

Fact 3

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Colour the blue-ringed octopus below to show what it looks like just before it attacks.

Imagine

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Fact 1

thatP youu are b on-board Captain James Cook's © ReadyImagine Ed l i c at i on sship in 1774 and the crew have just caught a blue-ringed octopus. The Captain prepares the octopus for dinner. Write a diary •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• entry about how the crew feels after dinner. ________________________________________

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________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

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________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

Extra!

Internet Activity

• Blue-ringed octopuses and pufferfish both contain tetrodotoxin. On the back of this sheet make a list of other animals which contain this toxic poison.

I lived to tell the story There are many news stories which you can find on the Internet that relate to people's deadly encounters with blue-ringed octopuses. Write your own newspaper article reporting an attack. Include your own picture, an attention grabbing headline and interesting details about the incident.

by:

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___________________________________ © ReadyEdP ubl i cat i ons ___________________________________ ___________________________________ •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• ___________________________________

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Blue-Ringed Octopus

Blue-Ringed Octopus Hangout

Blue-Ringed Octopus Hit List A blue-ringed octopus hunts and eats during the day. It likes crabs, squid, shrimps and lobster. If one of its prey is nearby, it will pounce on top of it, clasp it with its eight tentacles, paralyze it with its venomous bite, and use its beak to tear off and munch on pieces of its flesh. If its prey is some distance away, it will squirt venom through its siphon (funnel) into the water and wait until it is immobile before devouring it.

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Blue-ringed octopuses are not aggressive animals and will only unleash their venom on those who invade their hang out. They like to make little cubbies for themselves. They build their cubbies by digging holes in the sand and will even build little doors for their cubbies by piling rocks on top of one another. They like to lurk in shallow waters on the coast of Australia. These Deadly are areas that contain lots Fact of coral and rock pools so that they can hide from If you place a blue-ringed predators. Their bodies octopus in a container that is are soft, so they can easily not secure, it will escape. Like squeeze into tight spaces.

Large fish and crevice dwellers, like the moray eel, kill and eat blue-ringed octopuses. To avoid being eaten up, a blue-ringed octopus has some amazing powers. It can change other octopuses, the blue-ring colour rapidly to blend in is deceptively strong. with its environment and can change the texture of its skin to resemble sand, rocks, reefs, coral and seaweed! A blue-ringed octopus forces water out of its siphon to breath and propel itself through the water.

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Baby Blue-Ringed Octopuses

beak

A blue-ringed female octopus lays about 50 eggs in late autumn and will carry these eggs under her eight arms (which are covered in suckers) for six months. During this time she does not eat.

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Three to six months after the eggs have hatched, the female dies. The cute little pea sized babies mature rapidly and are ready to mate the following autumn.

Baby blue-rings can weigh up to 100 grams and grow up to 20 centimetres in length resembling the size of a golf ball.

Did You

sucker

tentacle

Know?

If blue-ringed octopuses lose an arm, they will quickly grow back another. 18

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Amazing Octopus 1

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Read about blue-ringed octopuses on page 18 to help you complete the following.

Fill in the Missing Words 1. A blue-ringed octopus can force water out of its _____________. 2. The blue-ringed octopus likes to build __________________ in the sand.

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3. An octopus has ________________ arms.

4. The blue-ringed female octopus lays about _____ eggs.

1. Begins life in an egg.

2. Eggs are carried under

mother's arms for six months.

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Read the five steps below to help you draw the life cycle of a blue-ringed octopus in the circles provided.

Draw the life cycle of a blueringed octopus.

3. Eggs eventually hatch.

4. Baby begins life the

5. Baby eventually grows to the size of a golf

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ball.

Complete the two food chains for a blue-ringed octopus below.

eats

The Blueringed octopus

eats

eats eats

o c . che e r o t r s super The Blueringed octopus

The blue-ringed octopus has a relatively short lifespan. Research the life expectancy of some other animals. Create a table like the one shown here to complete on the back of this sheet. Rank the animals according to their lifespans.

Name of animal Blue-ringed octopus

life expectancy 2 years

RANK

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Amazing Octopus 2

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Read about blue-ringed octopuses on page 18 to help you complete the following.

Colour and Texture

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Draw, colour and label three types of environments that a blue-ringed octopus can blend in with by changing its colour and texture.

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The reason why I circled the ________________ is _____________________________________

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You have discovered a blue-ringed octopus washed up at your local beach. Fill in the table below.

} } } } } } } } } 20

Species: Length: Where found: Colour: Special markings:

Male

Diameter:

Approximate age: Last meal: Likely cause of death:

Female

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Papier-Mâché Blue-Ringed Octopus

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Make a papier-mâché blue-ringed octopus or other dangerous animal of your choice by following the procedure below. If making a blue-ringed octopus, show its colours before it is about to attack, its eight arms with suckers on, its two eyes, its beak and its siphon. Look at the picture on page 18 to help you locate these parts of its anatomy. Display your model in the classroom.

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2. Use tape to attach the eight arms to a balloon or round ball (octopus' body). 3. Tear some newspaper into strips. Don't cut the newspaper, as torn newspaper works better.

Materials needed

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masking tape

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water and flour (paste)

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newspaper torn into strips

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4. Saturate the strips of newspaper one at a time with prepared papier-mâché paste. (To make papiermâché paste, mix together one cup of flour and two cups of water. Make sure that the paste is runny and not lumpy. Add more water or flour as necessary. Mix well to remove any lumps. Store the glue in a sealed container and place in the fridge for a few days.)

paint/materials to create blue rings, suckers, eyes, beak and siphon

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5. Squeeze off any excess paste and place each strip over your form and smooth it down with your fingers. Make sure that strips overlap.

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1. Mould aluminium foil or newspaper into the shape of octopus arms. You need eight.

6. When you have completely covered your form, let it dry for about 24 hours, then add another layer.

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7. Repeat this process until you get the desired effect. You should have at least three layers. 8. Use paint, crayon, pastels and other materials to add detail to your blue-ringed octopus' anatomy. 9. Display.

Dangerous Pet Complete the following flyer based on a blue-ringed octopus or other dangerous animal of your choice.

My Pet __________________________ is Missing! Answers to the name of: Last seen: (give details of location)

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Is known to feed on: (give details of diet)

Possesses the following characteristics: (give details of anatomy)

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Is likely to be found in areas: (give details of habitat)

It looks like this:

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(Draw a picture)

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Other special features include:

If you see my pet, please call __________________________________

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Stingrays OucH!

Nice to Meet You

Stingrays' venom is largely proteinbased and causes immediate and excruciating pain. The pain normally lasts up to 48 hours, but is most severe in the first 30 to 60 minutes and may be accompanied by nausea, fatigue, headaches, fever, chills, abdominal pain, swelling, muscle cramps, an irregular pulse and seizures.

Stingrays belongs to the Dasyatidae family. Don’t get on the wrong side of this family, because they are related to sharks.

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On 4th September 2006, stingrays crept further up the list of dangerous animals, when one pierced Steve Irwin in the chest while he was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. Irwin was one of Australia’s best known and loved wildlife experts. His death was a very public reminder to all, of stingrays' ability to poison, puncture, sever and kill.

Deadly

What Makes them Deadly?

} Fact }

First Aid

There is no antivenin for stingrays' stings. The only way to stop the pain is to apply nearscalding water to the wound and take a dose of prescribed antibiotics. Anesthetic can also bring instant relief for some hours. Doctors should clean the wound thoroughly to avoid infection and remove any of the stinger’s barbs commonly left in the victim’s body.

Being struck by a stingray’s tail is like being stabbed by a dagger!

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Stingrays poison, puncture, sever and kill using their thin whip-like tails. At the end of a stingray's tail is a sharp spine with serrated edges or barbs. By flicking their tails and flexing the serrated edges on their spines, stingrays can pierce a human’s skin and inject venom into the wounds that they create. As the venom seeps into their victims' skin, muscles begin to severely contract and tissues and cells begin to die. If a victim is wounded close to vital cells and tissues, death is likely. If a victim is struck on the foot for example, chances of survival are obviously higher.

If victims attempt to remove long stingers left in their wounds themselves, they can bleed to death. Some experts believe that Irwin would still be alive today if he had not pulled the stingray’s tail out of his chest himself.

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How dangerous do you think stingrays are? Colour in the danger rating just for fun.

Did You

Stingrays often lose part of their tails in attacks. However their tails regrow as quickly as human fingernails.

Rate Stingrays Misunderstood! I want one for a pet.

Increasing danger

Just dare me to swim with one!

Ouchh! These ones stab and sting.

Deadly Dangerous! Avoid at all costs.

Stabbing Stingrays 1

Ac t i v i t y

Read about stingrays on page 23 to help you complete the following.

Questions 1. To what other animal is the stingray related? _ _________________________________________ 2. The stingray belongs to the ______________________ family.

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3. Is there an antivenin for a stingray's venom?_ __________________________________________

As a class, brainstorm major cells and tissues in the human body. Then complete the task on the human body below.

Look at the human body below. Colour red the parts of the body which, if stabbed by a stingray, are likely to lead to a fatality. Colour yellow the body parts which, if stabbed by a stingray, are likely to need medical treatment.

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Brainstorm

Describe how a person may feel in the first 30 to 60 minutes after being injured by a stingray.

______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

______________________________________ © ReadyE dPubl i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

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Look at this picture. Which part of a stingray is this?

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Colour the shape which most closely resembles a stingray's body.

Stabbing Stingrays 2

Ac t i v i t y

Read about stingrays on page 23 to help you complete the following.

Design a Sign

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Design a sign which makes the public aware of one or two important facts about stingrays. Display in the classroom.

Indicate Whether the Following Statements are True or False

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1. A stingray's venom causes immediate pain.

_ ________________

2. You should apply cold water to a stingray wound.

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_ ________________

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3. A stingray could lose part of its tail during an attack.

4. Antibiotics can be prescribed to a victim of a stingray attack.

Create a Scale

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_ ________________ _ ________________

A stingray’s tail is its weapon. It can grow up to 25 centimetres in length. Complete a scaled drawing of a stingray tail below. E.g. 1 cm = 0.25 cm centimetres.

Scale 25

tion Informat 2 Shee

Stingrays Stingray Hit List

Stingray Hangout

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Like sharks, stingrays possess electrical sensors around their mouths (on the ventral side) which Stingrays live in shallow sandy salt water detect the natural electrical charges of potential where it is warm. They usually stay on the prey. As well as their electrical sensors, they also bottom of the ocean bed and partially use their excellent sense of touch and smell to bury themselves in the sand. Sliding your catch their food. Stingrays' noses are referred feet through the sand when entering the to as snouts and are at the tip of their diamond ocean will help you to avoid stepping on shaped bodies. They eat clams, oysters, mussels, stingrays and becoming their next victim, worms, shrimps, crabs, snails and occasionally as the rays will detect this movement fish. They have sharp teeth which crush the outer and swim away. Stamping hard on the shells of their prey and they force streams of bottom of the ocean bed as you water out of their mouths and flap their tread through murky water will fins over the sand to entice their prey to crawl out of their burrows in the also cause stingrays to swim Deadly sand. Stingrays' eyes are on the away. Stingrays are generally dorsal side of their bodies and thought to be docile Fact allow them to see prey above creatures which only attack Stingrays will slash open them. others in self-defence. Many a victim’s flesh with reports claim that Steve Stingrays are preyed on by sharks their tails if they feels Irwin was killed because and larger rays. They try to escape threatened or harassed. he accidentally boxed the being eaten up by camouflaging stingray in and it felt cornered themselves. Their flat bodies and the and threatened. At the time of the colour of their skin (usually brown, grey or black) help them to hide beneath the sand. attack, Irwin was swimming alongside Stingrays breath by drawing in water through and slightly above the stingray and a their mouths and expelling it through gill slits cameraman was filming the animal ahead. which are on the dorsal and ventral sides of their bodies.

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Baby stingrays are known as pups and are born in groups of five to ten. Female stingrays lay eggs inside their bodies and after a period of four to eleven months the eggs hatch within the mothers' bodies. The pups measure 20 to 34 centimetres at birth and weigh 282 to 1,128 grams. The pups have long, slender tails and broad wing-like pectoral fins at birth. When male stingrays reach 51 centimetres and females reach 75 to 80 centimetres, they are considered mature.

snout

mouth

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gill slits

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CUTE Baby Stingrays

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Know?

In some parts of the world, stingray is commonly served as a dish and the skin of stingrays is used to make exotic shoes, boots, belts, wallets, jackets and mobile phone cases.

Stingray statistics

Ac t i v i t y

Read about stingrays on page 26 to help you complete the following.

Questions 1. What is the best way to enter the ocean where a stingray is lurking, to avoid stepping on it?

______________________________________________________________________________

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2. Is the stingray an aggressive or docile animal? _ ________________________________________

Teac he r 2 metres

The diagrams below represent two sides of a stingray. 1. Label one diagram the dorsal (top) and the other diagram the ventral (bottom/underside). 2. Draw the stingray’s eyes, mouth and gill slits. 3. Label the stingray's snout. 4. Show where its electrical sensors are.

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A stingray can grow up to two metres tall. Compare your own height to that of a fully grown stingray’s, on the height chart below.

A stingray’s ventral is white, and its dorsal is brown, grey and black. Colour the diagrams accurately.

1.5 metres

1 metre

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Adult Stingray

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Stingrays are heavy lumps, weighing up to 350 kilograms. Compare your weight to a stingray’s, by writing your weight in kilograms on the weighing scales below.

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o c . che e r o t r s super How does a stingray's colouration help it?

Your weight:

Stingray's weight: 350 kilograms

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0 metres

__________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________

The average lifespan of a stingray is 15 to 25 years. Find out what your average lifespan is and compare it to a stingray's. 27

Studying Stingrays

Ac t i v i t y

Read about stingrays on page 26 to help you complete the following.

What do you call a baby stingray?

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Teac he r

Imagine that you have been asked to look after a baby stingray, just until it is old enough to hide from predators. Draw some water in the tank below and label some features that make it just right for your new pet.

© Ready Ed Pu bl i c at i o ns To find out about sea creatures, scientists observe their behaviour by electronically tagging them, filming them and by dissecting dead seas creatures washed on the •f orr evi esometimes w pu r po se on l yup•

Colour the animals below which prey on stingrays.

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shore. Recently scientists cut open a deceased stingray to find out what it hunts and eats. What do you think they found? Make a list inside the stingray's body below.

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Go to: www.ehow.com/how_2172915_stingray-hand-puppet.html for instructions on how to make a stingray puppet.

Stingray Search

Ac t i v i t y

Read about stingrays on page 26 to help you complete the following. Brainstorm words that might describe a stingray or are connected to a stingray.

Brainstorm

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Teac he r

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Create your own stingray word search by choosing ten words from your brainstorm list. Write the words in the word search template below and surround them with other letters. Swap word searches with the person sitting next to you.

Find the key words in the word search below. They can go up diagonally .

Key Words

• _____________

•

• _____________ •

, down

• _____________

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• _____________ • _____________

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Extra!

o c . che e r o t r s super Design a cover for an exciting ocean life magazine on the back of this sheet.

The feature story is on stingrays.

Include: • the title of your magazine • picture of a stingray • the date • the price • other pictures • headings which indicate other articles inside the magazine 29

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Brown snakes OucH!

Nice to Meet You

Bites from brown snakes are not usually painful, in fact many people do not even realise that they have been bitten. The pain comes after the bite and symptoms include sudden collapse, abdominal pain, having difficulty breathing and swallowing, drooping of the eyelids, convulsing and sometimes kidney failure.

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What Makes THEM Deadly?

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Brown snakes are the proud owners of the second most deadly venom in the world. Taipan snakes have the most deadly venom in the world but brown snakes cause the most number of deaths per year, and this is the reason why brown snakes have slithered into this book.

First Aid

Deadly } Fact }

Luckily only 20% of people bitten by brown snakes The venom of brown are injected with their On average brown snakes are snakes contains two deadly venom. The rest responsible for two to three poisons (neurotoxins and escape unscathed. For the deaths each year in Australia coagulants) which once 20% affected, a pressure and recently this number has inside the human body, do bandage applied firmly (not been on the rise! lots of damage. Neurotoxins tightly) over the bitten area prevent a person’s nerves should slow down the passage from functioning which causes of the venom through the lymphatic progressive paralysis, and coagulants cause system, at least until the victim receives human blood to thicken and clot. Brown antivenin. Keeping the body very still will snakes have killed more people than other also prevent the venom from spreading snakes mainly because they have begun through the body. to adapt well to living in urban areas. It is becoming more and more common to find Did You brown snakes sneakily hiding under debris Know? in vacant plots, in parks and even on city Pseudonaja is the scientific name for brown streets. In June 2009 for example, a man snakes. It means false cobra. This probably was bitten by a brown snake in Melbourne’s refers to the behaviour of brown snakes when CBD outside Myer when he was throwing they feel threatened, as like cobras, they raise out some rubbish! the front parts of their bodies, flatten and inflate their necks and sway from side to side. Brown snakes are active during the daytime Standing still when close to a brown snake in spring and autumn, but are mainly will prevent it from attacking you. nocturnal during summer.

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How dangerous do you think brown snakes are? Colour in the danger rating just for fun.

Rate brown snakes Misunderstood! I want one for a pet.

Increasing danger

Just dare me to hold one!

Watch Out! These ones are very sneaky.

Deadly Dangerous! Run for your life.

Ac t i v

i t y Ac t i v i t y

Snakey Statistics 1 Read about brown snakes on page 30 to help you complete the following.

True or False? 1. The brown snake’s scientific name means false cobra.

True False

2. The brown snake is so deadly because there is no antivenin for its bite.

True False

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3. Brown snakes are often found in Myer stores near the men’s department. True False 4. The bite of a brown snake is not painful.

True False

5. Abdominal pain could be a sign you have been bitten by a brown snake. True False

Making Comparisons

The taipan and the brown snake are often compared. One of the most noticeable differences between the two is that the brown snake is streamlined, so its head is not wider than its body. answer the questions below.

True False

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6. Swollen ears could be a sign you have been bitten by a brown snake.

Roughly indicate on a pie chart below how many people are injected with a brown snake’s venom when bitten and how many people remain unscathed.

1. Which has the most poisonous venom, the taipan or the brown snake?

__________________________________

2. Which snake is responsible for the most number of deaths in Australia?

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3. Why is this?

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4. What is the first thing that you should reach for when bitten?

__________________________________

5. If you see a brown snake what is the best thing to do to avoid being bitten?

__________________________________

Create a Venn diagram on the back of this sheet to highlight the similarities and differences between a brown snake and a taipan snake.

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Snakey Statistics 2

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Read about brown snakes on page 30 to help you complete the following.

Write a Diary Entry Write a diary entry describing a brown snake attack on your friend. Include details regarding how you helped rescue your friend bitten by its deadly fangs. Include a picture.

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_______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons _______________________________________________________________________________ •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

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The average length of a brown snake is one and a half metres. Use the height chart below to show how you measure up to a brown snake.

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1.5 metres

Draw a scaled drawing of a brown snake here. E.g. One metre = three centimetres.

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1 metre

0 metres

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Brown Snake

Scale

Extra: Find out what family the brown snake belongs to. 32

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Brown snakes

Brown Snake Hangout

Brown snakes eat frogs, rats, house mice, lizards, other snakes and small birds. They detect their prey by sensing movement and odour and catch their prey by coiling up and darting forward at great speed to bite and inject venom into their food. A brown snake will also coil itself around its prey until it dies.

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A brown snake cannot rip its food apart, so it will swallow its victim whole. A number of features make it capable of doing this. Firstly, the two halves of its lower jaw are not fused in the middle, which allows its mouth to stretch incredibly far apart. Secondly, it is able to produce Deadly huge amounts of saliva to lubricate its victim as it Fact passes down its throat. Even a baby snake can cause Thirdly, a brown snake's human fatalities. Like its parents, ribs can stretch apart as its victim moves down its it winds its body into an 'S' shape, body, as its ribs are not raises itself off the ground and attached to its breastbone strikes rapidly and repeatedly (like a human's ribs) and with its mouth open. finally, its skin is extremely stretchy.

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Location of Brown Snakes in Australia

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Eastern brown snakes are found all the way along the east coast of Australia, in the dry areas of the Northern Territory and in the far east of the Kimberly in Western Australia. They do not like swampy or wet areas, so are not found in rainforests. More and more brown snakes are being encountered near residential houses and in farm barns and sheds. This is mainly due to their diet. Most farmers don’t mind brown snakes as they control the number of rodent pests on their properties.

Brown Snake Hit List

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Female brown snakes produce a clutch of 10 to 40 eggs in late spring or early summer. Females do not guard their nests after they lay their eggs, so baby snakes are totally independent of their mothers. The eggs hatch after three months. Baby brown snakes are dark grey or black, and have broad bands on the back of their heads and numerous reddy-brown spots on their bellies. By about three years of age, their bands usually disappear. When baby brown snakes mature their colour can range from light to dark brown, orange to yellow or even black. Their bellies are cream, yellow or pale orange with darker orange spots.

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Larger snakes and birds, such as hawks, falcons, owls and eagles prey on brown snakes.

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Baby Brown Snakes

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Brown snakes can take several hours to swallow a large animal. Their ability to swallow very large food items means that brown snakes may need to eat only a few meals every year!

Ac t i v

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Read about brown snakes on page 33 to help you complete the following.

Life Cycle of a Snake Read each step to help you illustrate the life cycle of a brown snake in the boxes below.

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The female brown snake produces 10 to 40 eggs. The female does not guard its nest after it has laid its eggs.

The eggs hatch after three months.

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A baby brown snake also has numerous reddy-brown spots on its belly.

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A baby brown snake is dark grey or black, and has a broad band on the back of its head.

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 Draw what a brown snake likes to eat.

Extra! Make a list of other deadly snakes in Australia on the back of this sheet. 34

Ac t i v

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Read about brown snakes on page 33 to help you complete the following.

Questions 1. What letter of the alphabet does a brown snake resemble when it is about to attack? _ ________ 2. Circle the object below that you think most closely resembles how a brown snake would feel.

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3. Why is a farmer most likely to welcome a brown snake?

______________________________________________________________________________

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4. What four features of a brown snake make it able to swallow its prey whole?

• ______________________________________________________________________________

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dorsal (upper side)

brown snakes can be found.

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Colour the two diagrams below to show the possible colours of a mature brown snake.

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Ventral (underside) 35

Design an Enclosure for a brown snake Today, animals in captivity are rarely kept in cages. Instead, they are kept in specially designed enclosures that reflect, as closely as possible, their natural habitats in the wild. Design an enclosure for the brown snake at the Wild Zoo. Careful planning will need to take place to ensure that your animal will be able to exist comfortably in this enclosure. Remember, your brown snake probably wouldn’t choose to live in the zoo, so design your enclosure as close to its real habitat as you can.

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You will need to think about:

Water - Will it need to be near a watery environment such as a pond or river?

Building a home - What things do you need to add to the enclosure?

Trees - Will it need to be near trees?

Making the enclosure safe - What type of barrier will you use to keep it inside the enclosure? Temperature - What temperature suits the brown snake?

Teac he r

Vegetation - What types of plants need to be placed in the enclosure?

Light - Is it nocturnal? Food - What will it be fed and how often will feeding occur?

Draw a design of your enclosure in the space below.

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Space - How much space will the brown snake need to roam around?

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Information Shee

Saltwater Crocodiles

Nice to Meet You

OuchH!

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Saltwater crocs belong to the Crocodylidae family.

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Saltwater crocodiles are the best hunters in the business. There is no animal or person Few people who are attacked by a who they can’t catch. They are Superman, saltie live to tell the story. However Spiderman, Batman and Wolverine rolled into there are a few documented cases of one. And for this reason, they take pride of victims being released from crocodile place at the top of the food chain. If attacked jaws and escaping death. Depending by them, you have little chance of surviving, on the case, most victims have been given their sheer strength and size. Crocodiles left with severe cuts and wounds to have been around for millions of years. their bodies. They have witnessed the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, the evolution of mammals and birds, the civilisation of humankind and have survived the break up of the continents and the ice ages. They are tough cookies and have a Deadly lifespan of over 70 years!

} Fact }

First Aid

Saltwater crocodiles are responsible for many unprovoked attacks. You don’t need to make contact with them to become their next meal.

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Danger rating

need to perform CPR and apply direct pressure over bleeding wounds until medical help arrives.

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Salties' jaws and their ability to explode from a stationary position with great speed make them deadly weapons. Salties can attack on land or from the water. They are skilful swimmers due to their streamlined bodies, but they can also travel over land effectively. They usually wait until their victims are close by before launching themselves towards them and clenching them between their jaws; sometimes applying several tonnes of pressure. Clenched between their jaws, smaller victims are usually crushed to death and eaten whole, while larger victims are usually dragged into water and drowned before being torn into pieces and devoured. Salties are also known to roll with their victims to disorientate and unbalance them. This is known as the “death roll”.

Know?

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How dangerous do you think saltwater crocodiles are? Colour in the danger rating just for fun.

Saltwater crocodiles are responsible for at least one to two deaths a year in Australia, although it is thought that in the Aboriginal community of Arnhem Land, which occupies roughly half of the top end of the Northern Territory, attacks may go unreported and may be more common.

Rate saltwater crocodiles Misunderstood! I want one for a pet.

I want to be a croc wrestler.

Increasing danger

Here saltie waltie, here boy...

Deadly Dangerous! Run, Run, Run...

saltie Statistics 1

Ac tivit y

Read about saltwater crocodiles on page 37 to help you complete the following.

Questions

1. When submerged in the water what object do you think the crocodile is most likely to be mistaken for by swimmers? _________________________________________________________________

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2. What is the average lifespan of a saltie? _______________________________________________ 3. Explain the death roll._ ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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4. How much pressure can a saltie’s jaws apply to an object? ________________________________ 5. Does a saltie attack only when it feels threatened or harrassed? ___________________________ 6. If someone escaped a crocodile attack, what assistance would they need?___________________

______________________________________________________________________________

7. What family does the saltwater crocodile belong to? ____________________________________

Crocodile Smile

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While swimming, salties tuck their feet into their sides to decrease water resistence. Their webbed feet also allow them to make fast turns and sudden moves. Draw what you think their webbed feet look like in the box.

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A saltie is known to have between 60 and 80 teeth. It is said that you can gauge a saltie’s age by counting the rings on its teeth. One ring represents approximately one year. The oldest crocodile is thought to have been 130 years old. Draw a tooth belonging to a four year old saltie.

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A saltwater crocodile can swim 12 to 14 kilometres per hour in short bursts. Research how fast other animals are Name of animal Fastest Speed RANK capable of moving and record and 12-14 km per hour Saltwater crocodile rank them from fastest to slowest moving, on the back of this sheet. Create a table like the one shown here to help you organise your information.

saltie Statistics 2

Ac tivit y

Read about saltwater crocodiles on page 37 to help you complete the following. Write down four facts that make a saltwater crocodile an extraordinary animal.

Fact 1

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Fill in the speech bubbles below.

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Fact 3

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Fact 2

What did the crocodile say to the dinosaur?

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

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In some parts of the world, crocodiles are not protected by laws and are farmed commercially. Their hide is tanned and used to make leather goods such as shoes and bags and their meat is considered a delicacy. Create a poster to persuade such countries to protect the saltie.

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Extra: In pairs, do some research to see if you can find a story about someone who has survived a crocodile attack. Make some notes on the back of this sheet and take turns to tell the story that you have found to the rest of the class. You may want to consider the following: who was involved, where it happened, details of the victim’s struggle and escape and what injuries the victim suffered. 39

Information Shee

Saltwater Crocodile

saltie Hangout

saltie Hit List r o e t s B r e oo p u k S

Fully mature saltwater crocodiles are capable of wrestling anyone or thing on land or in water. Their prey is known to include: monkeys, kangaroos, wild boars, goannas, dingoes, water buffalos, horses and sharks. Salties, when not hunting, are very inactive, which helps them to conserve and build up energy to hunt and means Deadly that they can survive for Fact months at a time without food.

Australian officials go to great lengths to post crocodile warning signs at every billabong, river, Salties can swamp and lake known overpower and to be inhabited by crocodiles. Being welldemolish an informed about where animal weighing salties hang out prevents over a ton. human fatalities. Signs are less frequent and deaths are therefore believed to be higher in number in countries such as New Guinea, Borneo, Sumatra and eastern India.

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Saltwater crocodiles spend most of their time in water, despite being able to move effectively on land. They like to spend their time in freshwater rivers in coastal areas. Saltwater crocodiles are fiercely territorial and fully mature male salties force younger and smaller salties into the ocean where they have to search for river systems. This explains their wide distribution. In northern Australia, saltwater crocodiles are found in large numbers. This includes the top ends of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.

ÂŠ ReadyEdPubl i ca t i on Juveniles are s restricted to eating smaller animals such as insects, mud â&#x20AC;˘f orr evi ew pur pose s o n l y â&#x20AC;˘ crabs, turtles, goannas,

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lizards, snakes and birds. Juveniles are eaten by larger crocs.

. te o c Baby salties . che e r o t r sDid You Know? super Location of Saltwater Crocodiles in Australia

Female salties usually lay between 40 to 60 eggs every year in nests made from mud, grasses and vines. However it is believed that many eggs do not survive due to flooding, and due to predators such as lizards, wild pigs and human egg collectors. The eggs normally hatch after 80 to 90 days and are taken by their mothers into the water. 40

Salties are thought to be very intelligent animals, capable of learning difficult tasks.

Studying Salties 1

Ac tivit y

Read about saltwater crocodiles on page 40 to help you complete the following. Read each step to help you illustrate the life cycle of a saltwater crocodile in the boxes below.

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A female saltie lays eggs in nests made from mud, grasses and vines.

The eggs normally hatch after 80 to 90 days.

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Baby salties are taken by their mother into the water.

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Baby salties can swim from birth.

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The diagrams below represent two sides of a mature saltie. The ventral (belly) of a saltie is a creamy yellow to white colour, except the tail which is usually more grey in colour nearer the tip. The dorsal (top) side is dark in colour, with lighter tan or grey areas or spots. Colour the diagrams below accurately.

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ventral (belly)

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dorsal (top)

Studying Salties 2

Ac tivit y

Read about saltwater crocodiles on page 40 to help you complete the following.

Imagine

Imagine that you are part of a research team of scientists investigating the death of a 72 year old saltwater crocodile. Complete the report below.

Description of crocodile:

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Rings on teeth: Age:

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Male Female

On the map of Australia shade the areas where crocodiles can be found in high numbers.

Where found: Contents of stomach:

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mature salties

eat

Cause of death:

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1. What type of water does a saltie prefer to inhabit?_ _____________________________________ 2. When does a saltie inhabit ocean water?_ _____________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________ Freshwater Ocean water

Extra: Find out what the expression ‘crocodile tears’ means. _ ________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 42

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Design A sign

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Reported deaths by salties are quite low in Australia mainly due to warning signs displayed in crocodile infested areas. In 2002, a young German tourist was killed by a crocodile when herself and the tour group she was with ignored signs displayed in the Kakadu National Park in Northern Australia. Create a warning sign below and remember that all non-English speaking tourists must understand the sign.

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Trading Cards

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Create four dangerous animal trading cards to swap with your classmates. Complete the templates below and find or draw pictures to illustrate your dangerous animals.

Name:_ _____________________________________

Habitat:_____________________________________

Location:____________________________________

Preys on:____________________________________

© Re adyEdPubl i cat i o ns ______________ _ ______________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ •f orr evi ew pu posesonl y• r ___________________________________________

How dangerous is this animal?_

How dangerous is this animal?

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___________________________________________

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Scientific name:_ _____________________________

Name:_ _____________________________________

Habitat:_____________________________________

Location:____________________________________

Preys on:____________________________________

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How dangerous is this animal?_

______________

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______________

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Answers Terrifying Tentacles P7 1. Its transparent pale blue colour. 2. A stinging cell. 3. When it comes into contact with certain chemicals which exist on the surface of fish, shellfish and humans. 4. Yes. Students should draw and label: vinegar, ice, painkillers, antihistamines, antivenin and a bandage.

Amazing Octopus 1 P19 1. Siphon 2. Cubbies 3. Eight 4. 50 The moray eel eats THE BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS eats crabs/squid Large fish eat THE BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS eats shrimp/lobster

Box Jellyfish Up Close P12 Students should draw the box jellyfish in the beaker containing warm and shallow water. 1. In tropical oceans around northern Australia. 2. Venomous. 3. Three to four knots. 4. November, December, January, February, March and April. 5. A polyp. 6. Its tentacles are so long that animals become entangled in them and become its next meal. Turtles/rabbitfish eat BOX JELLYFISH eat shrimp/ jellyfish/small fish Butterfish eat BOX JELLYFISH eat crabs Batfish eat BOX JELLYFISH eat plankton

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Boxy Box Jellyfish P9 1. False 2. False 3. True 4. False Students should colour red parts of the human body where major organs are located, such as the chest. All other parts should be coloured yellow.

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which appear on the octopus’ yellow and brown body. Internet activities: students may list animals such as newts, parrotfish, some toads, sea-stars, angelfish and ocean sunfish.

Amazing Octopus 2 P20 Students should draw, colour and label environments consisting of three of the following: sand, rocks, reefs, coral or seaweed. Students should circle the cushion as it is soft and can be manipulated into tight spaces.

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Stabbing Stingrays 1 P24 1. The shark 2. Dasyatidae 3. No Students should colour red parts of the human body where major organs are located, such as the chest. All other parts should be coloured yellow. In the first 30 to 60 minutes after being injured by a stingray a person may feel sick, tired, have a headache, a fever, chills, abdominal pain, experience swelling and muscle cramps, have an irregular pulse and experience seizures. It is the end of the tail of a stingray called the spine. It has serrated edges on it. Students should colour the diamond shape.

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Paralysing Bite 1 P15 1. Maculosa (southern blue-ringed octopus), lunulata (greater blue-ringed octopus) and fasciata (blue-lined octopus). 2. Just before it is about to attack/bite. 3. No, the bite is usually painless. 4. About 3.10pm or 3.15pm. Students should indicate numbness around face and neck, difficulty with breathing, swallowing and speaking, nausea, lack of vision and inability to move. Paralysing Bite 2 P16 Students should show the electric blue rings

Stabbing Stingrays 2 P25 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. True

Stingray Statistics P27 1. Sliding your feet through the sand or stamping hard on the ocean bed is the best way to enter an ocean inhabited by stingrays. 2. Docile 45

Students should draw the eyes and gill slits on the dorsal side. On the ventral side, they should draw the mouth and more gill slits. They should indicate that its snout is at the top of its diamond shaped body and that its electrical sensors surround its mouth.

Students should colour the dorsal side brown, orange, yellow or black. They should colour the ventral side cream, yellow or pale orange with darker orange spots. Students' maps should resemble the map on the information page. (P33)

A stingray’s colouration helps it to camouflage itself from predators. Its underside blends in with the sand and its dorsal side blends in with the ocean.

Saltie Statistics 1 P38 1. Logs or large trunks broken from trees near the water edge. 2. 70 years. 3. The saltie holds its victim in its jaws and rolls with the victim to disorientate and unbalance it. 4. Several tonnes. 5. No it has been known to attack humans without being provoked. 6. They would probably need to be treated for shock, CPR may need to be performed and their wounds would need attention. Students should draw a tooth with four rings.

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Snakey Statistics 1 P31 1. True 2. False 3. False 4. True 5. True 6. False 1. The taipan snake. 2. The brown snake. 3. Because it is found in areas which are more populated such as lots, parks and even city streets. 4. A bandage. 5. Stay very still. Students should draw a pie chart which indicates that 20% of people are injected with venom when bitten and 80% of people bitten remain unscathed.

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Studying Stingrays P28 A pup. The water in the tank will need to be warm, shallow, sandy and salty. Students should colour the shark and the stingray. Students should list things such as: clams, oysters, mussels, worms, shrimps, crabs and snails.

Studying Salties 2 P42 Students' maps should resemble the map provided for them on the information page. (P40) Larger crocs eat BABY SALTIES eat mud crabs/ turtles/goannas/lizards/snakes and birds. MATURE SALTIES eat monkeys/kangaroos/wild boars/goannas/dingoes/water buffalos/horses and sharks. A saltie prefers to inhabit freshwater. A saltie usually inhabits ocean water when it has been driven out of fresh water by older and larger salties. Crocodile tears means fake tears.

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Snakey Statistics 2 P32 The brown snake belongs to the Elapidae family.

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Design a Sign P43 Students can produce a sign similar to the official one shown on the following web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kakadu_2430. jpg The copyright holder of this file allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that Tourism NT is always credited as the image provider even when passing it to third parties and where possible a link is provided to the website http:// www.travelnt.com.

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SSSSSSSnakes 1 P34 Students should draw frogs, rats, house mice, lizards, other snakes and small birds. Students will possibly list other snakes such as the taipan, tiger, death adder, mulga and the king brown.

SSSSSSSnakes 2 P35 1. The letter S. 2. Students should circle the shell or tyre. 3. Because brown snakes control the number of rodent pests on farmers' properties. 4. The two halves of its lower jaw are not fused in the middle, it is able to produce huge amounts of saliva, its ribs can stretch apart and its skin is stretchy. 46

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