Australian Animals: Ages 10-12

UPPER PRIMARY

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

RIC-0281 4.0/185

Published by R.I.C. Publications http://www.ricgroup.com.au

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Foreword

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Australian Animals is a series of three blackline masters published to foster and develop interest in Australian fauna through a framework of language development. These activities provide an ideal opportunity to introduce a high-interest topic as part of your language program. Skills introduced and covered include: • oral reading • comprehension • research • silent reading • reporting • semantic grids • word study • key words • main idea • sequencing • brainstorming • interpretation • organisation of facts • retrieval of information • three-level questioning/prior knowledge/comparisons A variety of common and some not so common Australian animals are covered with comprehension text, comprehension questions at three levels and a wide variety of language activities to develop knowledge of Australian animals and language skills.

Detailed teacher information is provided.

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C.P ubl i cat i ons Contents Teacher Information 22-23 Dingo •f orr evi ew pur pos esonl y•

iv

Clip Art/Cover sheet

24-25 Tree Kangaroo

1-3

Before the Activity

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1

Brainstorm

2

Before and After Chart

3

Think Sheet

4-29

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28-29 Dugong

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26-27 Thylacine

30-34 After the Animal Study 30 Interesting Word Chart

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31 Australian Animals Semantic Grid

The Animal Studies

32 Australian Animal Report

4-5

Australian Animals

33 Australian Animal Word Sleuth

6-7

Introduced Animals

34 Australian Animal Quiz

8-9

Feral Animals

35-36 Answers

10-11 Kangaroos 12-13 Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby 14-15 Wedge-Tailed Eagle 16-17 Bilby 18-19 Spiders 20-21 Numbat

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Teacher Information Before the Activity

Before and After Charts

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Record information about an Australian animal on the charts below.

Think Sh

tralian Aus imals An

Animal:

topic.

Title:

ce

Subheading

Subheading

I would like to know more about

Special facts

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Teac he r

Fill in the main

Habitat

Subheading

What more

I would about this like to know animal.

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1

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ns

Drawing

of

3

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Think Sheet

Do you think it faces any diffic ulties?

Food

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•

res

Subheading

Page 2

Subheading

Before and After Chart

Most appe aling featu

Title

•

Location

New and interesting information I have found about this topic.

Subheading

Page 1

animal? know about this with ideas What do you already connecting circles Complete the

Brainstorm

/features

After Reading

Brainstorm

•

Australian Animals

Appearan

the ings relating to title and subhead ing. about your subhead

To help make maximum use from each animal study, generic activities have been provided that can be used with all activities. These activities are:

eet

Before Reading What I know about

These three language strategies can be used to introduce the topic and have children focus on what they know and what they would like to know using strategies that are essential tools for future learning. It is suggested that one of these be used to precede each animal study.

The Animal Studies

Kangaroos

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• rali Aust an Animals

The two most common kangaroos are the Grey Kangaroo and the Red Kangaroo.

kangaroos require a consistent water supply.

The grey kangaroo describes two specific species, the Eastern Grey and the Western Grey. They both have grey to brown covering with the western grey being significantly darker than its eastern relative.

The male is larger than the female and can grow up to two metres in height. Each group of grey kangaroos has a dominant male who mates with most of the females in the group. The female gives birth to one live young called a joey, which is raised and fed in her pouch for 6-12 months. The grey kangaroo spends most of the daylight hours resting in the shade of the scrubland and low trees found in its habitat. Late in the afternoon the kangaroos become more active and spend the night feeding on grasses.

Text is provided to give a general description of the physical characteristics and behaviours of a specific animal. This information can be supplemented by existing school resources.

The grey kangaroo is found throughout the mainland of Australia, with the eastern grey being found mainly on the eastern coast and stretching into the drier areas. The western grey occupies a similar area on the western side of Australia. Both species are found in large numbers. They become a nuisance to farmers when they encroach onto farming lands in search of water and easy feed. The distance they move into the central areas of Australia depends largely on the level of rainfall, as

The red kangaroo is the largest living marsupial in the world. The male can weigh up to 85 kg and grow to more than two metres in height. The female is significantly smaller than the male. The central areas of Australia are home to the red kangaroo, which prefers wide open plains with scattered trees. Provided it has green grasses, the red kangaroo appears to be able to exist for long periods without fresh water. The male of the species is predominately red in colour, although the Use information in the passage to complete the table. darkness of the colouring varies. The1.female is the often not red at all, but is usually blue-grey. It is this colour Grey Kangaroo which gives the female the name ‘blue flier’. There are variations of colour in both the male and female. The eating and sleeping habits of the red kangaroo and grey kangaroo are similar.

PhBoth ysical Features animals stop breeding when environmental conditions are poor, but will start again when green feed becomes available.

Kangaroos

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Red Kangaroo

Location

Red

Food

Eastern Grey

1.

Describe a typical day in the life of a grey kangaroo.

Points of Interest

Unjumble these sentences.

2.

Questions at three levels are given to provide practice and consolidation of comprehension skills.

2.

Why can kangaroos be a pest to farmers?

3.

How does the female red kangaroo get the name ‘blue flier’?

Western

4.

The in the world.

kangaroo is the

5.

Why do you think environmental conditions are important to the survival of the kangaroo?

a)

kangaroo are and The of and habits red grey sleeping similar. eating the

b)

and up male metres weigh to can 85 kg red to two up in height. kangaroo The grow

living

3.

Fill in the spaces using information from the passage. a)

kangaroos become

Late in the

active and

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spend the

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b)

. breeding when

Both species of kangaroos 10

environmental conditions are

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4.

Additional language activities are provided that will give variety to the study of the animal.

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but will

again when feed becomes

.

Put these words into alphabetical order. variations

abundant

consistent

habitat

dominant

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kangaroo

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After the Animal Study

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Page 30

tralian Aus imals An

Name:

Word Chart Dictionary meaning Interesting y meaning Young

Location:

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Dynamics:

Dugong

Threatened

Thylacine

Spider

Vulnerable

Dingo

Plentiful Endangered

Tree Kangaroo

arachnid

placental mammal

Habitat:

Greater Bilby

Kangaroo

marsupial

Description:

Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby Wedge-Tailed Eagle

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Food

Australian Animal Report

Classification:

Habitat

•

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Title:

Complete the grid with information about each animals.

Page 31

Australian Animal Report Name:

Australian Animals Semantic Grid

Australian Animal Semantic Grid

M

Family

•

Passage

(sea mammal, bird, marsupial, arachnid)

Word

Numbat

Interesting Word Chart

Predators

•

Special features

As a method of revision, evaluation or further study, three generic activities are provided:

31

Predators/threats: 30

tions R.I.C. Publica

Drawing of animal and habitat.

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Australian Animals

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Name

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. te

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Subheading

. te m . u

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Subheading

Subheading

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www.ricgroup.com.au Subheading

Title

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What do you already know about this animal? Fill in the main title and subheadings relating to the topic.

Complete the connecting circles with ideas about your subheading.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Subheading

Subheading

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Brainstorm

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1

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Before and After Charts

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Record information about an Australian animal on the charts below.

Animal: Before Reading

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Teac he r

What I know about

I would like to know more about

After Reading

w ww

New and interesting information I have found about this topic.

. te

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m . u

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2

Think Sheet

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Title:

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Special facts/features

Location

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Teac he r

Appearance

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr ev i ew pur po sesonl y• Most appealing features Habitat Do you think it faces

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. te

Food

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any difficulties?

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What more I would like to know about this animal.

Drawing of R.I.C. Publications

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Australian Animals

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Marsupials represent a large number of Australian animals. Australia has more of these animals than any other part of the world. The main characteristics of the marsupial is that they give birth to live young which then spend time developing in their mother's pouch. This is what makes them different to other mammals such as cats, dogs and humans.

Within the marsupial group Australia has two very unique animals, the platypus and the echidna. These two animals are called monotremes.

Monotremes are egg-laying mammals which scientists believe date back to prehistoric times.

Apart from marsupials Australia has a wide range of other animal species.

This variety is the result of the many different climatic and environmental conditions found throughout Australia. These factors have produced special characteristics in many animals. Adaptations have allowed them to survive changing conditions such as droughts, floods and extremes of temperature.

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When people talk about Australian animals they will often mention kangaroos, koalas and emus. These three animals are worthy of this popularity because of their special physical and behavioural characteristics. There are hundreds of other Australian animals that are as unique and equally fascinating, yet are often unknown due to their size, smaller population or their isolated locations. Animals such as the tiny marsupial mice of the forest areas and the massive wedge-tailed eagle of the skies are fascinating to study, but are often ignored because Australia has such an abundant supply of unique animals.

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In more recent times, Australia's animal population has grown through the introduction of foreign species.

This includes animals such as rabbits, foxes, cats, dogs, goats and donkeys. In nearly all of these cases, the introduction of the animal by humans has caused damage to the environment and placed existing natural animal species at risk.

1.

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2.

Name two lesser-known Australian animals.

3.

Why are some of these animals not as popular or well known?

4.

Explain the main idea of paragraph five.

5.

How can we help to preserve Australia’s natural environment?

What are the main characteristics of a marsupial?

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Australians have a big responsibility to ensure that Australian animal populations are protected and allowed to survive and thrive. We must now work hard to repair the considerable damage that has already taken place and prevent similar problems occurring in the future.

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Australian Animals

Use key words or phrases from the passage to answer the questions below. Make notes in the short answer box and use this information to write a more detailed answer.

Topic: Australian Animals

Question: Why does Australia have such a variety of species?

Short answer

Long answer

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1.

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Topic: Australian Animals

Question: How have introduced animals affected the environment?

Short answer

Long answer

2.

Find words in the passage which are synonyms for:

w ww 3.

(a)

numerous

(b)

ancient

(c)

harm

(d)

large

(e)

features

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exceptional

Read the passage to find words for each of these sound groups.

er

4.

m . u

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al

tion

ow/ou

Use the back of this sheet to design an Australian Animals poster. It needs to promote our unique wildlife to local and overseas people. Consider a title or message about Australian animals, number of animals to include, types of animals and colours.

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Introduced Animals

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variety of reasons which included pets, sport, transport, pest control and food. Some of the animals included dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, foxes, donkeys, goats, camels and water buffalo.

When under human control these animals were not a threat to the environment. However, through a variety of methods, many of these species escaped into the wild and were able to adapt and breed successfully. This meant that existing Australian animals now had to compete against these introduced animals, upsetting the balance of existing food chains and placing their survival at risk.

Australian animals, such as the thylacine, became extinct and many others endangered.

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The requirements of modern civilisation meant that land was cleared, houses built, communities established and animals killed in large numbers for food or sport. There was little or no thought given to the effect these actions would have on the environment. Today we can see the evidence of this lack of environmental knowledge. Action is being taken to repair this damage through a range of scientific programs and an increased community awareness.

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Prior to the arrival of European settlers the Australian continent was populated solely by Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal people lived a nomadic life. Survival and culture was linked directly to the surrounding environment. It was therefore in their interest to live in harmony with the environment because they relied on it to provide food, water and shelter. Aboriginal culture and folklore is full of tales that tell of how the Aboriginal people lived a life that was harmonious with the environment. Unfortunately, with the arrival of the first settlers, a new factor was introduced - modern civilisation.

Introduced animals are without doubt one of the major dangers facing Australia's native animals.

Australia is now spending millions of dollars trying to undo the damage unknowingly created by the uneducated actions of the early settlers.

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One of the most damaging consequences of early settlement was the introduction of foreign animal species. These animals were introduced for a wide

Shade the boxes which best describe introduced animals.

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harmonious

2.

3.

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harmful

damaging

well-bred

effective

How could introduced animals be a threat to our native animals?

True or false?

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1.

threat to native animals

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(a) Settlers knew that introducing animals would be harmful.

(c) Many of the settler's animals escaped and bred in the wild successfully.

(b) Dogs, rabbits, cats and goats were some of the introduced animals.

(d) Introduced animals have caused extinction of some of our native animals.

4.

Give three reasons why animals were introduced by early settlers. (a) (b) (c)

Use the back of this sheet to explain what you think needs to be done to protect our native animals today.

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Introduced Animals 1.

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Read the passage about Introduced Animals. Write one key sentence to explain the main idea of each paragraph. (b)

(a)

(d)

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(c)

2.

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Use ticks to give your opinion of how each group treated the environment.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Not well

People

Fairly well

Very well

Can't tell

Reasons for answers

Early Aboriginal people Early settlers

4.

Find meanings for the following words.

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3.

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Australians today

(a)

consequences:

(b)

variety:

(c)

civilisation:

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Circle the introduced animals.

rabbit

cattle

kookaburra kangaroo

camel cat

wombat

buffalo

emu

frilled lizard

koala

donkey

Can you name any more?

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Feral Animals

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With the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 came the first European settlers to Australia. Among their supplies were livestock such as cattle, goats, pigs, ducks, sheep, hens and rabbits. Within months of arrival many of these livestock had disappeared, either killed or scattered into the large open surroundings of the land they had inhabited.

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The problem of feral animals continues today.

Animals such as domestic cats and dogs, roaming untamed, continually add to the feral population.

Other feral animals, such as goats, camels and foxes, continue to endanger the native plant and animal populations of Australia. Feral animals are one of the largest problems faced by the Australian environment today. Today's list of feral animals in Australia includes: cats, dogs, cattle, foxes, pigs, camels, goats, horses, deer, donkeys, water buffalo, various fish, cane toads, rats, mice and various insects.

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Apart from dingoes, brought here more than 40 000 years ago by Aboriginal people, those escaped livestock were to become Australia's first feral animals. 'Feral' means 'wild, untamed'. It can also describe domestic animals that roam free and breed in the wild. Both plants and animals can be feral. All feral animals and plants have the common feature of not being native. They have not developed and adapted over millions of years to live in harmony with their environment as have native animals. Feral groups upset the balance of nature.

Foxes, for instance, introduced for hunting, eat native birds.

Teac he r

Wealthy settlers shot and poisoned native cats, hawks and dingoes that were the only predators of the rabbits. This made conditions ideal for the rabbits. With few natural predators and hardly any trappers, the number of rabbits grew rapidly until 1950. Rabbits are always hungry and breed quickly.

They eat all the grass and roots, climb trees to strip leaves then kill the tree by eating its bark. They damage crops and raid grain stores. Rabbits take over the burrows of bandicoots, leaving them nowhere to breed and pushing them to the edge of extinction like the large-eared bilby.

2.

How were these animals first introduced to Australia?

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3.

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1.

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C.Publ i cat i ons or r e vi ew pur posesonl y• Explain• thef term ‘feral’ animals.

List two feral animals. Describe the effect they have on the natural environment. (a)

(b)

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4.

Why are feral animals one of the largest problems facing our environment today?

5.

What is the common feature of feral plants and animals?

Use the back of this sheet to explain why you think it takes millions of years to create a harmonious environment.

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Feral Animals 1.

2.

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Find the antonyms for these words from the passage. a)

imbalance

b)

unnatural

c)

occasionally

d)

tame

e)

uncommon

f)

native

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Complete the cloze using information from the passage.

With the

of the First

settlers to Australia. Among their supplies were

such as

,

animals. Both

animals were to become Australia’s first

3.

and

can be feral, meaning they are not

to the country and upset the

of nature.

Use these clues to solve the puzzle.

1.

2.

and rabbits. These

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Teac he r

came the first

in

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons and animals can Both be feral.

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• 1.

Untamed, wild animals.

2.

3.

3.

Near to the edge of extinction due to rabbits.

4.

Feral animals upset the of nature.

6.

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This animal was introduced by Aboriginal people more than 40 000 years ago.

6.

Introduced animals are a threat to

7.

Domestic dogs and

7.

animals.

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can become feral if left to roam. .

The mystery word is 4.

Pet Count

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5.

5.

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4.

Survey the children in your class or surrounding rooms about: a)

the number of dogs and cats kept as pets; and

b)

the number of dogs and cats that have been de-sexed; and

c)

the number of dogs and cats that not been de-sexed.

Discuss and Debate: All domestic pets should be de-sexed unless owned by a registered breeder.

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Kangaroos

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The two most common kangaroos are the Grey Kangaroo and the Red Kangaroo.

The red kangaroo is the largest living marsupial in the world. The male can weigh up to 85 kg and grow to more than two metres in height. The female is significantly smaller than the male. The central areas of Australia are home to the red kangaroo, which prefers wide open plains with scattered trees. Provided it has green grasses, the red kangaroo appears to be able to exist for long periods without fresh water. The male of the species is predominately red in colour, although the darkness of the colouring varies. The female is often not red at all, but is usually blue-grey. It is this colour which gives the female the name ‘blue flier’. There are variations of colour in both the male and female. The eating and sleeping habits of the red kangaroo and grey kangaroo are similar. Both animals stop breeding when environmental conditions are poor, but will start again when green feed becomes available.

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The grey kangaroo is found throughout the mainland of Australia, with the eastern grey being found mainly on the eastern coast and stretching into the drier areas. The western grey occupies a similar area on the western side of Australia. Both species are found in large numbers. They become a nuisance to farmers when they encroach onto farming lands in search of water and easy feed. The distance they move into the central areas of Australia depends largely on the level of rainfall, as

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The grey kangaroo describes two specific species, the Eastern Grey and the Western Grey. They both have grey to brown covering with the western grey being significantly darker than its eastern relative.

The male is larger than the female and can grow up to two metres in height. Each group of grey kangaroos has a dominant male who mates with most of the females in the group. The female gives birth to one live young called a joey, which is raised and fed in her pouch for 6-12 months. The grey kangaroo spends most of the daylight hours resting in the shade of the scrubland and low trees found in its habitat. Late in the afternoon the kangaroos become more active and spend the night feeding on grasses.

kangaroos require a consistent water supply.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Red

Describe a typical day in the life of a grey kangaroo.

w ww

1.

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m . u

Eastern Grey

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2.

Why can kangaroos be a pest to farmers?

3.

How does the female red kangaroo get the name ‘blue flier’?

Western 4.

The in the world.

5.

Why do you think environmental conditions are important to the survival of the kangaroo?

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kangaroo is the

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living

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Kangaroos 1.

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Use the information in the passage to complete the table.

Grey Kangaroo

Red Kangaroo

Physical Features

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Teac he r

Location

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Food

Points of Interest

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3.

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2.

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C.Publ i cat i ons Unjumble these sentences.

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• a) kangaroo are and The of and habits red grey sleeping similar. eating the

and up male metres weigh to can 85 kg red to two up in height. kangaroo The grow

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o c . che e r o t r s super

Fill in the spaces using information from the passage. a)

Late in the spend the

b)

kangaroos become

.

breeding when

Both species of kangaroos

but will

environmental conditions are again when feed becomes 4.

active and

.

Put these words into alphabetical order. variations

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abundant

consistent

habitat

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dominant

kangaroo

11

Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby

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This wallaby is the largest of the rock wallaby group. Males can grow to 70 cm and weigh up to 12 kg. When looking for rock wallabies, scientists can often follow a shiny trail. This trail is actually polished stones and rocks which is created as wallabies use the same pathway to reach their shelter. Thick pads of skin on the bottom of the feet ensure the rock wallaby doesn't slip on the rocks as it climbs to places that seem impossible to travel.

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Teac he r

The yellow-footed rock-wallaby gets its name from the yellow colouring on its feet and the distinguishing tail which has rings of brown and yellow. It lives in colonies in rocky places in the drier desert regions of Australia. Rock wallabies make homes in caves and rock shelters. They eat grasses, roots and leaves which gives them the ability to survive in very dry climates and drought. They reproduce single young and rear them in a pouch like kangaroos.

This species of rock wallaby is considered endangered and is now strictly protected. Despite this it must still compete for food with introduced animals like the goat and rabbits. The goat also competes with the rock wallaby for shelter, such as caves, forcing the wallabies to less suitable shelters, and are placed at greater risk to attack by other introduced animals such as feral cats and foxes which prey on the young wallabies.

Like most other rock wallabies, it is regularly hunted by the wedge-tailed eagle.

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Tick the sentences that best describe the yellow-footed rock-wallaby.

The yellow-footed rock-wallaby is the largest of its species.

b)

Thick pads of skin on its feet stop the wallaby from slipping.

c)

Goats live harmoniously with the rock wallaby.

d)

All wallabies are endangered.

e)

Rock wallabies are able to survive in very dry climates.

2.

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a)

3.

How are goats a threat to rock wallabies?

4.

Why do rock wallabies leave a shiny trail?

5.

Why do you think we need to control introduced animals such as the goat?

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What is the wallaby’s main source of food?

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1.

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The yellow-footed rock-wallaby has become rarer since the arrival of early settlers to Australia. Most of its land was inhabited by new settlers, forcing them to more remote places to survive. Large colonies were also a target for hunters seeking skins for the fur trade.

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Colour the yellow-footed rock-wallaby correctly.

12

Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby Mark in the trail the yellow-footed rock-wallaby has taken to its shelter.

2.

3.

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Finish these sentences by using information from the passage. (a)

Thick pads of skin on the bottom

(b)

The yellow-footed rock-wallaby gets its name from

(c)

Goats, which are introduced animals,

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons Write a letter to the Environment Minister about your concerns of introduced animals on the yellowf orr evi ew pur p os soendangered nl y• footed• rock-wallaby populations.

State reasons why they aree becoming and offer a

w ww

Dear

. te

m . u

solution to the problem.

o c . che e r o t r s super

Yours sincerely R.I.C. Publications

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13

Wedge-Tailed Eagle

rali Aust an i n A mals

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

The main source of food for this bird is small animals such as rabbits. It has been known to attack larger animals such as kangaroos and lambs, but this is rare. The wedge-tailed eagle has also discovered that staying in proximity to outback roads will provide a food supply from the animals killed by passing motor vehicles. They hunt during the day, spending the night on a safe perch. They usually nest high in treetops or on cliff faces. Their nests are called eyries.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey. It is a majestic animal that can soar to great heights using the ‘thermals’, or air currents, to assist its flight. It can glide great distances without flapping its wings. The female is the larger of the two birds and can have a wing span of more than two metres.

When in flight, the wedge-tailed eagle is identified by the six ‘fingers’ that appear at the end of each wing and its distinctive, wedge-shaped tail. As with many eagles, the wedge-tailed eagle does not enjoy human company and is found in the isolated desert and northern regions of Australia. It has reddish-brown to black feather covering.

A pair of wedge-tailed eagles mates for life. The female lays 1-3 eggs and incubates them for 5-6 weeks. The male sits on the eggs occasionally and feeds the female when it is her turn. After the eggs hatch both parents guard the nest and share the parenting responsibilities like feeding the young eaglets, or eyasses. Adults can have a life expectancy of between 20 - 50 years.

Another word to describe this type of bird is ‘raptor’. This word is used to describe birds of prey which have a hooked, sharply-pointed beak and powerful feet with claws. Wedge-tailed eagles also have large eyes with good binocular vision, but have a poor sense of smell. Australia has a variety of raptors including the little eagle, white-bellied sea-eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon and the Australian kestrel.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons These birds have a special attraction to many humans because of their great power, speed and vision, which orr ev i e pdays ur ose so nwere l ykilled •as they were is necessary • whenf capturing live prey.

In w the early ofp settlement many eagles

w ww

1.

. te

What is the main source of food for the wedged-tailed eagle?

o c . che e r o t r s super

2.

Why do humans find this bird fascinating?

3.

What does the word ‘raptor’ mean?

4.

List key words or phrases that describe the features of a ‘raptor’.

5.

Why do you think these birds should be protected in Australia?

6.

What does ‘binocular vision’ mean?

R.I.C. Publications

m . u

seen as a threat to flocks and herds of farm animals. This has meant the Australian raptor population is now well spread and found mainly in isolated areas. There are many of this group that are now considered endangered in Australia. The wedged-tailed eagle is fully protected in Australia but, unfortunately, still falls prey to some hunters.

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14

Wedge-Tailed Eagle

rali Aust an i n A mals

Complete the table below using key words or facts from the passage.

Wedge-Tailed Eagle

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Food

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Location

Young breeding cycle

Features

1.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons Name • Australia’s largest bird prey. f or r e vofi e w pur p se s onl y•of a ‘raptor’.

9. o Name two important features

2.

Where do wedge-tailed eagles usually nest?

4.

5.

w ww

3.

10.

Why doesn’t it enjoy human company?

. te

Both parents care for their young.

TRUE

11.

m . u

Complete the quiz below.

FALSE

The male is larger than the female.

o c . che e r o t r s super

Name its main source of food.

TRUE

12.

What do you call an eagle’s nest?

How many eggs does the female usually lay?

1-3

6.

Why did farmers see them as a threat?

7.

How long can eagles expect to live?

8.

What are baby eagles called?

FALSE

1-5

1-7

13.

Name another Australian raptor besides the eagle.

14.

What makes eagles fascinating to humans?

15.

In flight, the wedge-tailed eagle (flies/swoops/ glides) over great distances.

SCORE /15

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15

Bilby

rali Aust an i n A mals

The correct name for this animal is the Greater Bilby. It is a close relation to the Lesser Bilby, which is now extinct. The greater bilby is becoming very well known in Australia as it is often used as an alternative to the ‘Easter Bunny’. It is a graceful animal the size of a small domestic cat with silky, blue-grey fur and long ears. It moves in a similar way to a kangaroo but has a pouch that faces backwards. It rears up to two young at a time.

ew i ev Pr

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

The greater bilby is a burrowing animal and lives in burrows up to three metres deep. It has an extraordinary burrowing ability for its size and bilbies often live together in colonies which can cover many hectares of land. The bilby normally looks for ground that is reasonably soft and is not subject to flooding. During the day the greater bilby shelters in its burrow and emerges in the cool of the night to forage for insects, roots, seeds and fungi. When water is scarce the bilby gets most of its water from food.

Teac he r

found in scattered desert regions of central Australia and are classed as endangered. The main reason for this demise is the introduction of foreign species, in particular rabbits and cattle. Rabbits, which are also a burrowing animal, invaded the bilby’s burrows and forced them to move from their normal territories.

Cattle, because of their size and wandering nature, caused the destruction of the bilby burrows as they walked over them and caused them to collapse. Introduced predators like foxes and feral cats have also led to a decrease in bilby numbers.

It is important that the greater bilby is preserved. The release of the rabbit calicivirus to kill the rabbit population may allow the bilby to move back into the areas previously taken over by rabbits, however, it is vital the bilby does not follow the path of its less fortunate relative, the lesser bilby. The greater bilby is already classed as endangered.

2.

Find words in the passage that mean:

w ww

1.

(a)

break up

(b)

elegant

(c)

care for

(d)

amazing

. te

m . u

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

The greater bilby was once found in good numbers over most of the southern region of Australia. They are now only

o c . che e r o t r s super

Place these events in time order (1-4). (a)

Bilbies are now found only in scattered regions and are classed as endangered.

(b)

Rabbits take over bilbies homes, forcing them to move.

(c)

Greater Bilby found in good numbers.

(d)

Introduction of foreign species.

3.

What may help the bilbies increase in numbers?

4.

How did introduced animals affect the Greater Bilby’s population?

5.

On the back of this page, explain why you think the bilby is being used as an alternative to the ‘Easter Bunny’ in Australia.

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16

Bilby

Use key words or phrases from the passage to answer the question below. Make notes in the short answer box and use this information to write a more detailed answer.

Topic: Bilby

Question: Describe the physical features of the Greater Bilby.

Short answer

Long answer

Find suitable nouns, adjectives or verbs to complete these phrases from the passage. ears

silky, blue-grey

(b)

© R. I .

C. P uofb i cat i ons cat animal the size al small extraordinary ability for •f orr evi ew p ur pitsosesonl y•

(c) (d) (e)

live together in

a

foraging at

for insects, roots,

Find the meaning of these words.

w ww

3.

with

(a)

Word

. te

forage

alternative

My explanation

and

m . u

2.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Dictionary meaning

o c . che e r o t r s super

emerge

4.

On the back of this sheet, write a ten question quiz about bilbies from the passage. Swap or test your quiz with a partner. How well did you go? Score it out of ten.

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17

Spiders

rali Aust an i n A mals

Australia has a wide variety of spiders. A small number of these are capable of harming humans with their venom. Of these the funnel-web and red-back spider are the most well known.

ew i ev Pr

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

The Sydney funnel-web is found in and around Sydney. It is one of the world’s most feared spiders, as when threatened it attacks rather than retreats. It is dark brown-black in colour and can grow up to 5 cm in length. They feed mainly at night on insects and other small creatures. This spider gets its name from the tube-like nest it builds. The nest is built in small holes or crevices and is surrounded by tripdevices that tell the spider when it is in danger.

All funnel-web spiders are potentially dangerous but the male Sydney funnel-web is the most venomous and will attack if threatened. If bitten by a funnel-web, a pressure bandage should be used on the bitten limb and the victim taken to hospital where an antivenom can be administered.

Teac he r

Black Widow spider. Male red-backs are small, but the female has a larger, shiny, black body and thin black legs. The pea-shaped body has a stripe varying in colour from yellow-orange to scarlet along its upper surface. Since an antivenom was discovered in the mid 1950s no deaths have been recorded from a red-back spider bite. It is found mainly in the south-west of Australia. The female red-back is capable of causing harm, as only her fangs can pierce human skin. It is found in crevices and dark areas close to the ground and is quite common in populated areas. The red-back hangs upside down in its silk retreat during the day and emerges at night to feed on insects and small creatures. The web is a tangle of threads from which hang several snare threads to the ground or other surfaces to snare its prey.

Other harmful Australian spiders include the white-tailed spider, mouse spider, black house spider and a variety of funnel-web spiders.

Apart from this short list of venomous spiders, Australia has many harmless spiders, ranging from the beautiful Golden Orb spider to the hairy huntsman and some wolf spiders. While all spiders have fangs and can inject poison, only a few are dangerous to humans.

The red-back spider is related to the American

w ww

1.

Name two harmful and harmless Australian spiders.

Harmful

. te

3.

True or false?

2.

Harmless

m . u

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Why is the funnel-web one of the most feared spiders?

o c . che e r o t r s super T/F

(a) Red-back spiders cause many deaths in Australia.

(b) An antivenom to the red-back spider was found in 1950. (c) Only the male red-back is harmful. (d) Most spiders feed at night on insects. (e) All spiders have fangs but only a few are dangerous.

4.

What should you do if bitten by a venomous spider?

5.

Why do you think spiders feed at night?

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18

Spiders 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Read and illustrate.

Before

2.

After

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

(a) The Sydney funnel-web spider creeps slowly from its tube-like nest seeking food. Suddenly it senses danger. It rears up on its hind legs, threatening the intruder and prepared to attack.

Before After

(b) The red-back spider hides in its dark crevice, hanging upside down until disturbed. It runs anxiously to the problem.

Food! A juicy insect trapped in its snare threads waiting to be eaten.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i onsRed-back Funnel-web •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Find information from the passage to complete the table below. Compare the two spiders.

w ww Habitat

. te

Food

m . u

Description

o c . che e r o t r s super

(a) Two interesting facts

3.

(b)

On the back of this sheet write an acrostic poem using the first letters of funnel-web, red-back or spider. Share it with other classmates. Present a good copy in a spider shape for display!

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19

Numbat

rali Aust an i n A mals

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Unlike other marsupials, numbats sleep at night and forage during the day. The main food of the numbat is termites. The numbat has a long, sticky tongue which it uses to lick up the termites at a very rapid rate.

This tongue can be as long as half the numbat's body length and can consume as many as 10 000 termites in one day. It can also be known as the Banded Anteater but, unlike other anteaters, it does not have large, clawed paws for digging. As a numbat moves about its tail is held high in the air. It trots on the ground, leaps and can even climb trees. They make a 'tut-tut-tut' or soft grunting sound while scampering about.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The numbat is a harmless, gentle and attractive Australian animal. Found in the south-west forests of Australia, the numbat is a marsupial that grows to only 40 cm in length. It is red-brown in colour and has white stripes across the rump and a black stripe running down the side of its face. The female does not have a pouch and carries the young attached to the nipples and fur of its underbelly. Once the young have grown too large they are left in a nest or may occasionally be carried on the mother's back.

Prior to early settlement the numbat was found in most coastal regions stretching around to New South Wales. It is thought the numbat was one of the first animals forced away from the newly developed areas. The reason for this was that the numbat feeds and forages during the day, which is rare for a marsupial, and this made the animal more obvious. As well as this, the numbat uses old logs and timber for its shelter and much of this material was collected for firewood. The strong dependence upon termites for food also restricts its habitat to areas where the insect is abundant.

The numbat population is now restricted to the south-west corner of Australia and is still at risk because of the habitat destruction that is caused in the forestry industry. It is also in danger of falling prey to foxes and feral cats and is now classed as an Australian endangered species.

List two unusual facts that make the numbat different from other marsupials.

2.

w ww

1.

m . u

Š R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

3.

Shade the words that best describe the numbat.

(a)

. te

(b)

o c . che e r o t r s super

What factors have led to this animal being endangered?

long tongue nocturnal

marsupial

gentle

habitats destroyed

no pouch

sharp claws

bushy tail

harmless

climbs trees

moves slowly on ground

day feeder

4.

Describe how a numbat moves on the ground.

5.

What action do you think is needed to help the survival of endangered animals in Australia?

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20

Numbats

Write key words or phrases for each paragraph in the passage. Use these to write a key sentence to show the main idea for each paragraph.

Paragraph

Key words/phrases

2

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

1

Key sentence

3

2.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons Find synonyms in the passage for: 3.

Write the sentence from the passage that best describes: •f orr evi ew pur po se sonl y• (a) prior (b)

consume

(c)

rapid

w ww 4.

(d)

restricted

(e)

attached

(f)

scamper

. te

(a)

how the young are carried.

(b)

the sound a numbat makes.

m . u

1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

o c . che e r o t r s super

The gentle numbat trots along with tail held high, through the forest foraging for termites. Sensing danger, the numbat hides in a hollow tree trunk. Safely hidden, it escapes from being the prey of a feral cat.

Before

R.I.C. Publications

After

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21

Dingo

rali Aust an i n A mals

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

The dingo is a hunter and eats mainly birds and small mammals such as rabbits, wombats and wallabies. Dingoes will hunt individually or in packs depending on the size and number of the prey. Since the known introduction of the dingo, the Tasmanian devil and thylacine became extinct from mainland Australia through competition rather than predation. This is a very clear indication of the effect that introduced species can have on native animal populations.

In some areas of Australia where the dingo is seen as a threat to sheep and other animals they are baited and hunted. It has been noted that in these areas the increase in other animal populations due to the absence of dingoes can be equally damaging to animals and pasture areas. To exclude dingoes from the eastern States of Australia, a fence was erected which came to be known as 'the longest fence in the world', but it proved to be ineffective. Dingoes and feral dogs are still a problem in some farming areas today.

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The dingo is one of the oldest breeds of dogs and is known as Australia's ‘wild dog’. Fossil records date the appearance of the dingo in Australia to approximately 3 500 years ago. It is thought the dingo was introduced into Australia by Aboriginal people travelling down from Asia or that they were introduced by seafarers from Asia. The dingo is found throughout the Australian mainland, however, is rarely seen in populated areas. It is mainly a ginger-red colour, often with white tips to the ears, white feet and chest blaze. Black dingoes have been observed but are rare. Their bodies can grow to one metre with a bushy tail adding an extra 30 cm and long ears that always stand erect. Despite the increase in feral dog populations, it is thought the dingo population in central Australia is largely purebred. This could be due to the fact that, unlike domestic dogs, the dingo breeds only once a year and usually averages 3-4 pups. Dingoes normally howl rather than bark, however, dingoes can be taught to bark in the company of domestic dogs.

2.

3.

w ww

1.

m . u

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

How was the dingo thought to have been introduced into Australia?

. te

o c . che e r o t r s super

Find words in the story that mean: (a)

noticed

(c)

uncommon

(b)

pedigree

(d)

non-existence

List two reasons for and against the introduction of animals into another country.

For

Against

(a)

(a)

( b)

(b)

4.

When would dingoes hunt in packs?

5.

Why have domestic dogs become a problem in some areas of Australia?

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22

Dingo 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Complete the cloze using information from the passage. are known as Australia’s ‘ thought to be

2.

to our country by Aboriginal travellers or fishermen over years ago. The dingo is a , eating mainly small and or birds. The competition for led to the Tasmanian and being forced from mainland Australia. The thylacine later become . The dingo can hunt or in depending on the and of the prey. They have been known to attack , causing them to be pests to .

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

mammals like the same

dog’. They were

Complete the box below with facts from the passage.

Dingoes

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Appearance

w ww Food

. te

Important facts

3.

o c . che e r o t r s super

Put these words into alphabetical order. increase

4.

m . u

Location

limited

problem

populations

domestic

pups

On the back of this sheet, prepare a poster for your local veterinarian or pet shop.

List what makes a good pet owner and how to prevent domestic pets becoming feral.

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23

Tree Kangaroo

rali Aust an i n A mals

A little-known animal in the Australian bush is the Tree Kangaroo. This ancestor of the kangaroo lives predominantly in trees in heavily-wooded forest areas of north-eastern Australia. The tree kangaroo is very agile and has specially adapted pads on its feet to help with climbing and moving through trees. It is the only member of the kangaroo family (macropods) that can move its rear feet independently. All other kangaroos hop with the back feet moving at the same time. The tree kangaroo can move each foot independently and can also hop when it is on the ground.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

The forearms of tree kangaroos are longer and more muscular than the kangaroo as they are an important part of the movement through the trees. While they have a long tail, it is not used as a climbing or gripping tool as with other tree-living mammals such as the monkey. Animals that can use their tail as an extra gripping or climbing limb have a ‘prehensile’ tail. The tree kangaroo’s tail is used for balance.

The tree kangaroo lives on leaves and fruits of the trees they inhabit and feed mainly at night. During the day they will sleep in the fork of tree branches. It is usually solitary but may feed in small groups. Its breeding cycle is like other kangaroos; producing one young and rearing it in a pouch.

Continued logging and reduction of their rainforest habitat has led to a steady decline in numbers.

The two main species are Lumholtz's and Bennett's tree kangaroos ©R .

I .

Cfound .Pinu b l i caareas t i o sQueensland. A third which are the rainforest ofn North species, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is found in New Guinea.

•f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

True or false? (a)

T/F

A monkey has a prehensile tail.

(b) Tree kangaroos feed mainly at night.

w ww (c)

A tree kangaroo has a prehensile tail.

(d) All kangaroos belong to the macropod family.

2.

. te

Give two ways the tree kangaroo differs from other kangaroos. (a)

(b)

o c . che e r o t r s super

3.

What is a ‘prehensile’ tail?

4.

Explain the night and day activities of the tree kangaroo.

Day:

5.

m . u

1.

Night:

Why do you think tree kangaroos need to move their feet independently?

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24

Tree Kangaroo 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Complete the box below to show the differences in these kangaroos.

Tree Kangaroo

Kangaroo

Location

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

Dynamics (What they can do. How they move.)

Food

Special features

4.

Their long tail

•

•

are nocturnal animals.

Tree kangaroos

•

•

each foot independently.

Has muscular forearms

•

•

to help it move through trees.

w ww

3.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons The tree can move • p not used aso a climbing gripping tool.

•kangaroo f orr e vi ew u•r piso s es nl yor• Match these sentence beginnings with their endings.

m . u

2.

Explain the meanings of these words.

. te

(a)

independent

(b)

ancestor

(c)

agile

(d)

inhabit

o c . che e r o t r s super

Write the antonym for these words from the passage. (a)

imbalance

(b)

well-known

(c)

clumsy

(d)

enlargement

5.

R.I.C. Publications

Make a simple board game on the back of this sheet using ten facts from the passage on the tree kangaroo. Use dice and counters to move around the game with a partner. Hint! Set your game in a forest. Move forwards/ backwards or miss a turn when you land on a tree.

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25

Thylacine

rali Aust an i n A mals

efficient hunter and forced the thylacine into extinction on the mainland. Tasmania, due to its isolation by sea, remained the main habitat of the thylacine until the arrival of the early settlers. It was then that farmers killed many of these animals as they were a threat to their livestock. The government of the time even offered a bounty for killing the animals. The last recorded capture of a wild thylacine occurred in 1933 and this animal died in 1936. There has been no official capture of a Thylacine since, although a wide range of people from many parts of Australia have reported sightings or supposed evidence of the thylacine at regular intervals since.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

One of the great mysteries of Australian nature is the status of the mysterious animal called the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger. It is generally accepted that the thylacine is extinct, yet infrequent reports of sightings from many different parts of Australia keep the question alive. The thylacine was a dog-like animal with a pouch that opened backwards, rearing 2-3 pups each season. It was about two metres long with soft, sandy-coloured hair and strong jaws, which it used when hunting down its prey. It had a wolf-like head and prominent dark stripes across its back and rump. Its tail was kangaroolike and it had a throaty, cough-like bark.

Thylacines hunted individually or in pairs and often used to tire their animals by persistently chasing them until they were exhausted. Their prey included wallabies and other small native animals and after early settlement included sheep and other domestic animals. They hunted mostly at night, retiring to its lair for shelter during the day?

© R. I .

C.Pub l i c at i o sexample of the effect The thylacine is an classic that introduced species (dingo) and the effects of human habitation canl have on animal •f orr evi ew pur p ose son y• populations.

The thylacine was widespread throughout Australia until the introduction of the dingo thousands of years ago. The dingo was a more

List four prominent features of the thylacine.

m . u

1.

w ww

(a)

(b) (c)

(d)

. te

o c . che e r o t r s super

2.

What effect did the dingo have on the thylacine?

3.

What does the word ‘bounty’ mean?

4.

The last wild thylacine was captured in (1930, 1933, 1935) and later died in captivity in (1932, 1933, 1936).

5.

What do you think the government could have done differently to prevent the extinction of the thylacine?

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26

Thylacine

departure

(b)

frequent

(c)

irregular

(d)

tame

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

Complete the quiz below.

The thylacine was once widespread throughout Australia.

TRUE

2.

FALSE

ew i ev Pr

Teac he r

1.

What food did they eat?

3. Its tail was

-like.

4.

Why did the dingo force thylacine from the mainland?

5.

What is another name for the thylacine?

6.

Why did the government offer a ‘bounty’?

Thylacine thrives in Tasmania, but becomes such a pest to farmers that government offers 'bounty' rewards for its departure.

(a)

Cut the information boxes below and glue them in order to show the thylacine’s history.

3.

When was the last recorded capture of a thylacine?

9.

What two effects caused the thylacine’s extinction?

10.

Sightings of thylacine are still reported.

TRUE

o c . che e r o t r s super

FALSE 1.

SCORE /10 R.I.C. Publications

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With introduction of the dingo and competition for the same food, the thylacine numbers decline and was forced from mainland Australia.

8.

. te

m . u

Name two features of the thylacine.

2.

w ww 7.

Last known thylacine caught and died in captivity in 1936.

Now extinct but some sightings still reported, keeping the thylacine mystery alive.

3.

© R. I .

C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

Thylacine is a native animal of Australia. It has a wolf-like head and sandy-coloured fur, black stripes on its rump and a kangaroo-like tail.

2.

Find antonyms in the passage for:

4.

1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

27

Dugong

rali Aust an i n A mals

The dugong is a very rare sea mammal. It is the only herbivorous mammal that lives entirely in the water. Dugongs are found in shallow, coastal waters of northern Australia and other parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans in warm waters where seagrass can be found.

This animal is like no other. This large grey mammal can measure up to 3 metres long and weigh up to 400 kilograms. Like dolphins, it has a powerful, forked tail that propels it through the water at about 20 kilometres per hour. It has a trunk-like head, with a blunt, rounded snout and a bristly upper lip. Its two flippers help manoeuvring and also push seagrass near its mouth. Adult dugongs have two long tusks in the upper jaw but only the male’s are visible. They can travel in herds and may live up to 50 years of age. Dugongs are usually found in shallow waters protected from large waves and storms. They surface only to breathe.

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Female dugongs give birth underwater to a single calf every 3-7 years. The calf stays with its mother, drinking milk from her teats and following close by until one or two years of age.

Dugongs are sometimes called 'sea cows' as they graze slowly on seagrasses. They need to consume large amounts of the marine plant which grows on the sandy sea floor in shallow waters.

Their slow movement provides little protection for these gentle mammals. Their large size helps but they can still fall prey to large sharks, saltwater crocodiles and killer whales. The young hide behind their mothers when in danger. Their main threat comes from humans.

The dugong is classified as an endangered and protected species. It can only live where seagrasses are growing. Many of these meadows can be destroyed by dredging or smothered by soil washed into the sea from farmlands. They have also been hunted in the past for their meat, fat, hides and bones. Only a small group of traditional Aboriginal people are allowed to hunt this animal. Many populations have been caught and accidentally drowned in fish and shark nets.

The effects of modern civilisation and the disturbance of natural habitats are forcing the dugong to struggle for survival.

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1.

Give two reasons why the dugong lives in shallow waters. (a)

(b)

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What makes this mammal so unique?

2.

Shade the boxes that best describe the dugong. 3. fierce slow-moving gentle herbivore endangered carnivore feeds on seagrass multiple births large populations moves in herds powerful tail trunk-like head

4.

List three ways in which this species’ population is being threatened. (a) (b) (c)

5.

On the back of this page, explain what you think has been the most threatening element for the dugong. Why?

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Dugong 1.

rali Aust an i n A mals

Read the passage about the dugong. Write a key sentence to describe the main idea of each paragraph in the passage. (a) (b) (c)

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(d)

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(e) (f)

2.

Use key words or phrases from the passage to label the diagram below.

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3.

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Write facts to complete the table.

Habitat

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Predators

Threats to species

R.I.C. Publications

Dugong

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Breeding

Special facts

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Name:

rali Aust an i n A mals

Interesting Word Chart Passage

My meaning

Dictionary meaning

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Word

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30 www.ricgroup.com.au

R.I.C. Publications

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Dugong

Thylacine

Tree Kangaroo

Dingo

Numbat

Spider

Greater Bilby

marsupial

. te

Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Kangaroo

Family

(sea mammal, bird, marsupial, arachnid)

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placental mammal

arachnid

Habitat Food

Young

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Complete the grid with information about each animals.

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Australian Animals Semantic Grid

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Predators

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Special features

rali Aust an i n A mals

Australian Animal Report

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Name: Title:

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Location:

Description:

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Classification:

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C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

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Plentiful

Vulnerable

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Endangered

Dynamics:

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Habitat:

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Threatened

Predators/threats:

Drawing of animal and habitat.

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Australian Animal Quiz

rali Aust an i n A mals

1. What is a marsupial?

15. Bilbies are nocturnal. TRUE

FALSE

2. Name two Australian marsupials.

16. Bilbies live in (hollow trees, burrows, rock caves).

17. Name two harmful Australian spiders.

3. What is a ‘feral’ animal?

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S

18. All spiders have fangs to inject poison and are dangerous.

4. Name a feral animal.

FALSE

19. Name a Western Australian endangered species.

20. What do numbats eat?

6. What are our two most common kangaroos?

21. How were dingoes first introduced to Australia?

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C.Pub l i cat i ons 22. Name two animals that became extinct on mainland Australia because of the •f orr evi ew pur po s e s o n l y • The eating and sleeping habits of the red introduction of the dingo.

7. The living 8.

TRUE

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5. What effect can feral animals have on our environment?

kangaroo is the largest living in the .

and grey kangaroo are very different.

FALSE

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9. Why does the rock wallaby leave a shiny trail?

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TRUE

23. What is a ‘prehensile’ tail?

o c . che e r o t r s super

10. The (dingo/goat/kangaroo) has led to the yellow-footed rock-wallaby being (extinct/endangered).

24. Why did the thylacine become extinct in Tasmania?

11. How is the tree kangaroo different from other kangaroos?

12. The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey.

TRUE

FALSE

25. Dugongs are a sea mammal and are sometimes called sea as they graze on .

13. What are young eagles called?

14. Where do wedge-tailed eagles perch at night?

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Australian Animals - Wordsleuth m

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Find these Australian animal words in the sleuth. red kangaroo

koala

rabbits

pack

goats

herd

numbat

cats

nest

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S foxes

seagrass

trees

mob

dingo

possum

donkeys

web

insects

red-back spider cliffs

emu

dogs

termites

fruit

buffalo

camels

leaves

dugong

roots

wallaby

bilby

marsupial

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t

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Circle the animals that are endangered. On the back of this sheet, make a list of Australian animals and feral animals.

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Crossword

1

2

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Down 1. Australia’s ‘wild dog’ 2. The tree kangaroo’s home 3. Smaller relative of the kangaroo 7. Term to describe ‘bird of prey’ 8. No longer exists 9. Rock wallaby’s home 11. Mammals with pouches to rear their young 12. A young eagle 13. Spider’s home 15. A small, Western Australian endangered animal R.I.C. Publications

3

4

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Across 1. A rare sea mammal 4. Main diet of kangaroo 5. Koalas eat these 6. Term for plant-eating animal 9. Young dugong 10. Young dingo 14. Extinct dog-like Australian animal 16. Bilby’s home 18. Numbat’s main diet 20. Australia’s ‘Easter Bunny’ 22. To grow strongly 25. An animal whose young feeds on its mother’s milk 27. Wild, untamed animals animals have many 29. unique characteristics

27

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17.

19.

21.

23.

24.

26.

28.

Dugongs are sea mammals An introduced animal to Australia Where eagles can build a nest To damage or hurt Eagles have binocular.

A certain way of behaving -back spider

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Answers Page 4

rali Aust an i n A mals

1. Give birth to live young; rear young in a pouch.

2. Answers may vary.

3. Unknown because of their size, smaller populations, isolated regions, Australia’s large number of unique animals.

4. Introduced animals and their effect on the environment.

5. Answers may vary.

1. Teacher check.

2. (a) many (b) prehistoric (c) damage (d) massive (e) characteristics (f) unique 3. er - mother, smaller, number, other al - animals, mammals, marsupial, natural behavioural, environmental tion- population, introduction, mention, location, conditions ow/ou droughts, allowed, found, pouch, now

Page 6

1. Teacher check.

2. (a) Thick pads of skin on the bottom of its feet make sure the wallaby doesn’t slip. (b) The yellow-footed rock-wallaby gets its name from its yellow feet and brown and yellow rings on its tail. (c) Goats, which are introduced animals, compete with the rock wallabies for shelter.

3. Teacher check.

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1. harmful, damaging, threat to native animals.

2. By competing for food or shelter with the existing native animals.

3. (a) false (b) true (c) true (d) true 4. Sport, pets, transport, food, pest control.

Page 7

1. Teacher check.

2. Teacher check.

3. (a) an outcome or value. (b) a change from what usually happens. (c) the highly developed life of a particular people, including their science, art and writing.

4. Rabbit, cattle, camel, buffalo, cat, donkey.

Page 8

1. Introduced animals roaming wild and untamed.

2. Early settlers introduced animals to Australia where many escaped and bred in the wild.

3. (a) foxes - eat native birds. (b) Rabbits - take over bandicoots burrows, damage crops, eat large amouts, breed quickly.

Other possible answers.

4. More domestic animals, are becoming feral and threatening native animals.

5. They are not native to a country and have not adapted to the environment, threatening native animals.

Page 14

1. Small animals such as rabbits, kangaroos and lambs, road kill.

2. Great power, speed, vision needed to capture live prey.

3. Bird of prey.

4. Hooked, sharply-pointed beak, powerful feet with claws.

5. Answers may vary.

6. Able to see small objects from a great distance.

Page 15

Teacher check.

Quiz: 1. Wedge-tailed eagle.

2. High in treetops or cliff faces.

3. Fear of capture or being hunted.

4. Rabbits.

5. Eyrie.

6. Threat to farm animals. 7. 20-50 years.

8. Eaglets/eyasses.

9. (a) hooked, sharp beak. (b) powerful feet and claws.

10. True 11. False 12. 1-3 eggs.

13. Osprey, white-bellied sea-eagle, peregrine falcon, Australian kestrel, little eagle.

14. Its speed and power.

15. Glides.

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1. (a) balance (b) natural (c) continually (d) wild (e) common (f) feral 2. arrival, Fleet, 1788, European, livestock (choices - cattle, goats, pigs, ducks, sheep, hens), feral, animals, plants, native, balance.

3. Mystery word - rabbits.

4. Teacher check.

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1. Most daylight hours spent resting in shade of shrubland; more active afternoon and night feeding on grasses.

2. Encroach farming properties in search for water and easy feed.

3. Its colour of blue-grey. 4. Red, largest, marsupial.

5. Kangaroos stop breeding in poor conditions.

1. Teacher check.

2. (a) The sleeping and eating habits of the red and grey kangaroo are similar. (b) The male red kangaroo can weigh up to 85 kg and grow up to two metres in height.

3. (a) afternoon, more, night, feeding. (b) stop, poor, start, abundant.

4. Abundant, consistent, dominant, habitat, kangaroo, variations.

Page 18

1. (a), (b), (e).

2. Grasses, roots, leaves.

R.I.C. Publications

1. Teacher check.

2. (a) fur, long (b) bilbies, colonies (c) graceful, domestic (d) burrowing, size (e) night, seeds, fungi 3. forage - to search around for food or other supplies. alternative - one of two or more choices. emerge - to come out into view.

4. Teacher check.

1.

Harmful

Harmless

Sydney funnel-web Red-back White-tailed spider Mouse spider Black house spider

Golden Orb Huntsman spiders Wolf spiders (Children may supply others)

2. As it attacks rather than retreats when disturbed.

3. False, False, False, True, True.

4. Apply a pressure bandage to bitten limb and seek medical attention for antivenom.

5. Answers may vary.

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Page 12

1. (a) breakup - scattered (b) elegant - graceful (c) care for - preserved (d) amazing - extraordinary 2. (c), (d), (b), (a).

3. The introduction of the rabbit calicivirus to control the rabbit population.

4. Rabbits invaded burrows making bilbies more vulnerable to prey, wandering cattle destroyed burrows.

5. Answers may vary.

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3. Compete for same shelter, force wallabies to use unsuitable shelters and be at risk to enemies.

4. Polished stones created by wallabies using same pathway to reach their shelter.

5. Answers may vary.

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1. Teacher check.

3. Teacher check.

2. Teacher check.

35

rali Aust an i n A mals 1. (a) No pouch - carries young attached to nipples and fur. (b) Feeds during the day.

2. Habitats destroyed, feeds during the day.

3. Long tongue, marsupial, gentle, no pouch, bushy tail, harmless, climbs trees, habitats destroyed, sharp claws, day feeder.

4. Trots on the ground, can leap, climb trees. Makes a ‘tut-tut-tut’ sound as it scampers along.

5. Answers may vary.

Page 21

1. Teacher check.

2. (a) before/earlier (b) eat (c) quick (d) limited/confined (e) joined (f) run/hurry.

3. (a) The female does not have a pouch and carries the young attached to the nipples and fur of its underbelly. (b) They make a ‘tut-tut-tut’ or soft grunting sound while scampering along.

4. Teacher check.

Page 23

1. (a) arrival (b) infrequent (c) regular (d) wild 2. Quiz: 1. True 2. Wallaby and small native animals.

3. Kangaroo.

4. Competing for same food.

5. Tasmanian tiger.

6. To stop the thylacine killing livestock.

7. Answers may vary.

8. 1933.

9. Dingo/humans.

10. True.

3. Teacher check.

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1. Through Aboriginal people travelling down from Asia or by seafarers from Asia.

2. (a) observed (b) purebred (c) rare (d) extinct 3. For - food, pest control, pets.

Against - threat to native animals, damage or changes to environment.

4. When it is a large sized prey or a large number of prey.

5. Answers may vary.

Page 28

1. For protection from large waves and storms, to feed on seagrasses in shallow waters, for protection from some predators like large sharks.

2. Slow moving, gentle, herbivore, endangered, feeds on seagrass, moves in herds, powerful tail, trunk-like head.

3. The only herbivore to live entirely in the water.

4. Seagrass meadows destroyed by dredging, caught accidentally in fish/shark nets, once hunted for its hide, meat, bones and fat, meadows destroyed by soil washed into sea from farmlands.

5. Answers may vary.

Page 29

1. Teacher check.

3. Teacher check.

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1. Dingoes, wild, introduced, 3 500, hunter, rabbits/wallabies/wombats, food, devil, thylacine, extinct, individually, packs, size, number, sheep, farmers.

2. Teacher check.

3. Domestic, increase, limited, populations, problem, pups.

4. Teacher check.

Page 31

(sea mammal, bird, marsupial, arachnid)

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1. True, True, False, True.

2. Climbs trees, moves feet independently, feeds in trees.

3. A tail that can be used for extra gripping when climbing in trees.

4. Day - sleeps in fork of tree branches.

Night - forages for leaves and fruit in the trees they inhabit.

5. Answers may vary.

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marsupial

Australia open,

Food

Young

Grass

Usually 1 joey in pouch

grassy plains

Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby Wedge-Tailed Eagle Greater Bilby

Bird

Marsupial

Rocky outcrops

Web, dark crevices

Spider Numbat

Marsupial

S.W. forests

placental mammal

All over less populated areas

Thylacine Dugong

Marsupial Marsupial

Grasses, roots Usually 1 leaves young in pouch

High treetops Rabbits, small creatures Cliff faces Scattered Insects, roots, central seeds and desert regions. fungi

arachnid

Tree Kangaroo

Page 33.

Marsupial

1-3 eggs

2 young in pouch.

humans feral cats foxes

Egg sacs

humans

Termites

Carries young on fur under belly

foxes feral cats

3-4 pups

humans humans

Birds, small malls (rabbits, wallabies, wombats)

Trees

Leaves Fruit

1 young in pouch

Birds Small mammals

2-3 pups

Seagrasses

single calf

Special features Red kangaroos and marsupials. Strong legs, large tail to balance.

Feral cats Foxes Wedge-tailed eagle

Insects, small creatures

Tasmania

Shallow, Sea-mammal coastal waters

Predators

Humans

humans

largest bird of prey in Australia endangered **depends on which spider is chosen no pouch endangered attractive thought to be responsible for forcing Tasmanian devil and thylacine from mainland

lives in trees moves feet independently

extinct

killerwhales endangered sharks rare mammal crocodile, humans

Quiz: 1. Mammals that give birth to live young and rear them in a pouch.

2. Answers may vary (kangaroo, koala, wallaby, bilby, wombat, numbat, etc.).

3. Untamed/wild animals, introduced or roaming free.

4. Answers may vary (rabbits, foxes, donkeys, goats etc.).

5. Answers may vary (attack native animals).

6. Red, grey kangaroos.

7. Red, marsupial, world.

8. False.

9. Uses the same trail back to shelter, smoothing rock surfaces.

10. Goat, endangered.

11. Climbs trees, moves feet independently.

12. True.

13. Eaglets/eyasses.

14. Cliff tops, high tops of trees.

15. True.

16. Burrows.

17. Sydney funnel-web, red-back spider.

18. False.

19. Numbat.

20. Termites 21. Aboriginal people travelling from Asia or seafarers from Asia over 4 000 years ago.

22. Tasmanian devil, thylacine.

23. When the tail is used as an extra gripping tool when climbing.

24. Killed by humans as Government offered bounty to stop it attacking livestock.

25. Rare, cows, seagrasses.

Teacher check.

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1. Teacher check.

2. The tree kangaroo can move each foot independently.

Their long tail is not used as a climbing or gripping tool.

Tree kangaroos are nocturnal animals.

Has muscular forearms to help it move through trees.

3. (a) Not relying on the help of others. (b) Someone related to you who lived long ago. (c) Lively and active. (d) To live or dwell in.

4. (a) balance (b) little-known (c) agile (d) reduction 5. Teacher check.

Page 26

1. Backward opening pouch, dog-like, 2 metres long, sandy-coloured hair, strong jaws, wolf-like head, prominent dark stripes across its rump and tail, kangaroo-like tail, throaty cough-like bark.

2. More efficient hunter than thylacine, forcing its extinction from mainland Australia.

3. A reward given for a special purpose.

4. 1933, 1936.

5. Answers may vary.

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R.I.C. Publications

Habitat

Most mainland

Kangaroo

Dingo

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2. Teacher check.

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