Written by Libby Sutton

Strange Animals Written by Libbywith MelvinSutton cook Too Strange Animals

Author: Libby Sutton with Melvin Cook

ISBN Print: 978-1-63260-330-2 ePub: 978-1-63260-331-9

855.200.SNAP www.snaplearning.net

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction...... 4

The Kakapo...... 5

The Dumbo Octopus...... 6

The Gerenuk...... 7

The Sun Bear...... 8

The Japanese Spider Crab...... 9

Conclusion...... 10

Voices...... 11

References...... 12

Quick Writes...... 13-14

Research Integrate and Synthesize...... 15

Oral Reading Fluency Chart...... 16

Book Check...... 17-18 INTRODUCTION

1 In the island country of New Zealand, there exists an extremely rare bird that walks about at night. The bird searches for fruits, flowers, leaves, and seeds. On any given night, this bird might walk miles in its quest for a food source. During the day, Mark Whatmough, CC BY 2.0 Whatmough, Mark the bird frequently hides from predators 3 in the crown of a tree. Oddly, it gets to the It is because this bird, called a kakapo, top by climbing. cannot fly.

4 2 But why does the bird not fly from place The world has many unique animals and to place instead of walking in its search the kakapo is just one example of these for nutrition? Why does this animal climb strange animals. Some other examples, a tree instead of simply flapping its wings which will be discussed briefly here, are to leave the ground and find safety? the Dumbo octopus, the gerenuk, the sun bear, and the Japanese spider crab. However, these are but a few of many Animal Ranges odd and exotic animals that can be found Gerenuk Eastern Africa on Earth. Sun Bear Parts of Southeast Asia Arctic Ocean Japanese Spider Crab The Paciﬁc Coast of Japan ROP ORT Kakapo RIC SI Parts of New ealand Atlantic Ocean

Paciﬁc Ocean FRIC Paciﬁc Ocean

SOT RIC Indian Ocean STRLI

Southern Ocean

Japanese Gerenuk Sun Bear Spider Crab Kakapo

4 The Kakapo

The kakapo is the rarest and strangest 6 parrot in the entire world. Because of European and Polynesian colonization of New Zealand and the subsequent introduction of various predators, they are critically endangered. In fact, according to Wikipedia, as of February 2012, only 126 living kakapos were known to exist.

Kakapo

aka night parrot Strigops habroptilus New Zealand Kakapo by Brent Barrett, CC BY-SA 2.0 BY-SA CC Barrett, Brent by Kakapo Zealand New

Average weight: 8 lbs. Color: Light green Average Lifespan: 60 years Status: ndangered Marcus Nolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 CC BY-SA Nolf, Marcus

5 What makes an animal strange? To begin As noted previously, kakapos are incapable 7 with, something is usually thought of as of flying. They are somewhat portly, often strange if it appears different from what weighing up to eight pounds. A kakapo’s a person is accustomed to. The animal outer feathers are soft and light green, might also be unfamiliar because it is with a streak of black on the backs. The very rare and infrequently seen. Further, life span of a kakapo is about 60 years. the animal may have unusual habits such as feeding. Lastly, the creature may be located in a part of the world that is alien to most people.

5 The Dumbo Octopus Layers of the Ocean

Sunlit one 0 - 650 ft

Tilight one 650 ft - 3,300 ft

Dark one

3,300 ft - 13,000 ft Photo: NOAA Photo:

byss Dumbo 13,000 ft - 20,000 ft Octopus Trenches over 20,000 ft Grimpoteuthis Average length: 8 in. Average Lifespan: 3 to 5 years beneath the surface of the sea. However, a Habitat: Deep sea ~9,800 ft. to 13,000 ft. few have been spotted at a depth of 23,000 feet below sea level. Although most of this 8 The Dumbo octopus is so-named because rare species is smaller, some have been of its resemblance to the flying elephant recorded as being six feet in length and in the Walt Disney movie, Dumbo. This weighing 13 pounds. octopus has ear-like fins protruding from a head-like body. It uses these fins, in The Dumbo octopus hovers above the 10 part, to move. It also moves by pulsing sea floor, searching for marine worms its arms or by shooting water through and various crustaceans. Unlike other its funnel. octopi, they consume food by swallowing it whole. 9 These creatures live at the extreme depths of the ocean, deeper than any other octopi. Most exist at roughly 10,000 feet

6 The Gerenuk

11 The gerenuk (the “g” is hard) is a threatened its neck. Gerenuks seem to favor the species of antelope found in East Africa. tender leaves and shoots of bushes and They are also commonly called giraffe- trees. However, they will also eat flowers necked antelopes. The gerenuk is reputed and fruit. to be an extremely humble animal, frequently aiding fellow gerenuks. In Gerenuks rarely drink water. They14 fact, ancient tribal tales originating in the apparently receive enough of the precious African continent refer to the gerenuk as liquid from the plants they consume. the “Queen of Humbleness.” Therefore, they can survive in a very dry habitat. Gerenuk aka Queen of umbleness Litocranius walleri Average Length: 5 ft. habitat: Semi-arid bushland status: ear-threatened Average Lifespan: Wild - 8 years Capitivity - 13 years

12 Gerenuks resemble a giraffe, with long, spindly legs, an elongated neck, and a relatively small head in comparison to

its body. However, the eyes and ears of a gerenuks feed by standing Gerenuks in Samburu by Frederic Salein, CC BY 2.0 Frederic by in Samburu Gerenuks on their hind legs gerenuk are extremely large. From head

to tail, the animal is about five feet in These animals are a popular prey for such 15 length. Therefore, it is much smaller than predators as lions, cheetahs, jackals, and a giraffe. leopards. The anticipated lifespan of a gerenuk is about eight years in the wild. 13 This unusual creature feeds by standing However, many have survived up to 13 erect on its rear legs and elongating years in captivity.

7 The Sun Bear

Most bears have relatively long, rough 18 fur, but a sun bear’s fur is short, smooth, and shiny. The sun bear also has unique, distinguishing features on its body. On its chest is a horseshoe-shaped marking that is light orange and yellow. These colors can also be found around its nose and eyes. These unusual markings give it the

Sitting Sun Bear by Emmanuel Keller, CC BY-SA 2.0 BY-SA CC Keller, Emmanuel by Bear Sun Sitting name sun bear. Sun Bear aka honey bear Helarctos malayanus Because they have no hair on their long 19 Average height: 4 ft. Color: Black ith a large yello paws, sun bears are skillful tree climbers. patch on the chest Habitat: Tropical Rainforests Their tongues are long and curved. Status: vulnerable Besides honey, they eat fruits, termites, birds, and lizards, as well as roots. Their 16 Sun bears are only about four feet strong jaws also enable them to open and tall, making them the smallest bear in eat coconuts and nuts. existence. These diminutive bears are also sometimes called “honey bears” because of their preference for honey and honeycombs.

17 Sun bears are mostly located in tropical rain forests in Southeast Asia. However, they are sometimes found in other sun bears have long tongues 3.0 CC BY-SA Ninjakeg, locations, such as Borneo and China.

8 The Japanese Spider Crab

Michael Wolf, CC-BY-SA 3.0

20 The Japanese spider Japanese Spider Crab crab is a marine crab aka orlds biggest crab Macrocheira kaempferi that lives in the waters Average weight: 40 lbs. off the southern coast of Color: Orange ith hite spots leg span: 12 ft. Japan. The leg span of this crab is about 12 feet and the weight is approximately In some parts of Japan, the Japanese spider 22 40 pounds. It can be found in water crab is considered a delicacy. Therefore, as shallow as 50 feet and as deep as the crabs sometimes are harvested for 2,000 feet. food.

21 The crab is orange in color with white In spite of its intimidating appearance, 23 spots along the legs. It is an omnivore. the spider crab is said to have a gentle This means it will feed upon both plants disposition. However, the original and animals. The crab will also act as a description of the crab written in 1836 scavenger, picking at dead animals. by a German naturalist noted that it could cause serious injury because of its strong claws.

9 Conclusion

STAR-NoSed

Tom Junek, CC BY-SA 3.0 CC BY-SA Junek, Tom AYE-AYE MOLE Mantis Shrimp

BUSH Atheris hispida by Bree Mc ,CC BY 2.0 Mc Bree by hispida Atheris

Photo: Roy L. Caldwell Roy Photo: VIPER

24 The world is filled with strange and Animals, like the kakapo, also are deemed 26 unusual animals. In fact, over 1.3 million strange because of their rarity. Because non-insect animal species have been their populations are so limited, many of identified by science. these animals are classified as threatened or endangered. Animals with these 25 People consider an animal strange for a classifications often are protected in some variety of reasons. The first reason usually manner. has to do with appearance. Animals that

appear to be different from what a person Lastly, some animals, although plentiful 27 is accustomed to, such as the Dumbo and easily located like the gerenuk, are octopus, often are thought to be strange. judged strange because of some unusual habit, such as feeding.

10 Fictional narrative in a biologist’s notebook describing an extremely strange animal he encountered

28 In a remote jungle of China, I witnessed what I only believed to exist in literature and mythology: a Griffin.

29 I was on a trek out in the deep jungle on a cold and misty day when I heard an unbelievably loud flapping sound. It was similar to the movie sound effects of a dragon flapping its enormous wings.

30 I peered attentively through the trees and I saw a gargantuan black figure fly by me. A large thump followed moments after it passed. I cautiously made my way toward the enigmatic creature.

31 I reached a large clearing in the jungle where in a single instant my world was turned upside down.

32 Flabbergasted, my mind tried to comprehend what lay before me. A creature, about the size of a large pickup truck, was resting majestically on the grass like the sphinx. It had the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion, and an eagle’s head and wings, with talons as front legs. The color of its feathers and fur seemed to shimmer and constantly change in a cascading rainbow fashion.

33 I sat mesmerized, admiring the beast until it suddenly gathered itself and flew up into the sky and disappeared.

11 REFERENCES

Animals of the Rainforest – Sloth: www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/animals/slothpage.html

Halfmann, J. Smithsonian: Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection).

Sun Bears, Sun Bear Pictures, Sun Bear Facts (National Geographic): animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sun-bear/

Temple, P. The Story of the Kakapo: Parrot of the Night.

Images Page 4 Strigops habroptila by Mark Whatmough, CC BY 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strigops_habroptila_-Sirocco-6a.jpg

Page 5 New Zealand Kakapo by Brent Barrett, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/12883460@N00/113100688/in/photolist-aZETS-4qfPxi-4qfRy2-4NQvgo-4ZE3Qn-559Xgu-5q8Dnx-5qbCbn-5qbCsr- 5qcXK3-5qcXWU-5qcY9Q-5qfjGY-5qfWP7-5qfX7f-5qfXcU-5MWgpP-63vvHg-7q92ip-gskxiG-gsfMKs-gsgMfM-aRGMWK-aF1pVd-7zjSzX-aCUedZ-aCUeQP- aCUeCV-aCUekg-aCUdJK-aCYESu-aCUfae-aCY5JY-aCUcP2-aCY5iJ-aCY6q1-aCUdxB-aCY56u-aCUNwT-aCUNE4-aCUcfV-aCUeKg-aCUepB-aCUdmV-aCY4kL- aCY6VG-aCUdXT-aCUNJT-aCUfhz-aCY5YY-aCY5wh

Pura, a 1-year-old Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) on Codfish Island by Marcus Nolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strigops_habroptilus_1.jpg

Page 6 Dumbo Octopus by Mike Vecchione, NOAA http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grimpoteuthis_discoveryi.jpg

Page 7 Gerenuks in Samburu by Frederic Salein, CC BY 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerenuks_in_Samburu.jpg

Page 8 Malayan Sun Bear by Ninjakeg, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malayan_sun_bear.JPG

Sitting Sun Bear by Emmanuel Keller, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sitting_sun_bear.jpg

Page 9 Macrocheira kaempferi by Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Riesenkrabbe.jpg

Page 10 Atheris hispida by Bree Mc, CC BY-2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulsurvivor08/3434870112/

Aye-aye by Tom Junek, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aye-aye_(Daubentonia_madagascariensis)_2.jpg

Roy L. Caldwell. Mantis Shrimp. National Science Foundation. http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=62726&from=img

12 Quick Writes

13 Quick Writes

14 Research ntegrate 4-5 and Synthesie B RECTONS

Integrate or synthesize information from two sources on the same topic. Use this book as one of the sources. Enter the titles or websites of the two sources in the space provided. Enter 4-5 facts from each source. Using the facts from both sources, write a short research paper of one or to paragraphs.

1 Source 2 Source

Writing Space

15 Oral Reading Fluency Chart

Book Check Rubric Weigh score by 1

No Attempt Below Basic Basic Proficient Advanced

Student makes no Student makes an Student completes Student completes Student completes attempt to complete attempt to complete most of the elements all elements of the all elements of the the task. the task. of the tasks. task. task. Task

Student demon- Student demon- Student demon- Student demon- strates little or no strates a strates an under- strates deep under- understanding of the limited understand- standing of the text. standing of the text. task. ing of the text.

Student provides Student supports Student completely limited or no the answer with evi- supports the answer evidence to support dence from the text. with solid evidence their answer. from the text. Evidence Understanding

16 Total: Book Check : Name: Strange Animals Date: 32

Select a paragraph. Write a question and answer. Cite details from the text to support the answer. 4

Paragraph

State the main idea of the book. Create a new title for the book that restates the main idea. Support the title choice using at least two key ideas from the book. 4

Select two key ideas from the book. Explain the relationship between the two key ideas. How do they contribute to your understanding of the central idea of the book? 4

Select 2 words or phrases from the book that are important to you as a reader. Explain why you selected these words or phrases. Describe how you would use them in the future. 4

17 Explain how the authors organized the book. Identify the primary text structure. Quote evidence from the book to support your answer. 4

Compare and contrast the text form, point of view, and purpose of Voices with the other CC COMPARE CONTRAST passages in the book. 4

Select a text feature from the book. Explain how it contributes to or clarifies your understanding of the text. Quote from the text. 4

What claim do the authors make in paragraph 18? Quote statements from the text that provide evidence or reasons to support that opinion or claim. 4

Animals EAN