Shark Attack
What do sharks normally eat?
Sharks normally eat fish, turtles, seals, and whales.
How do some fish use camouflage to catch their prey?
Some fish are the same color as their environment, while others change color to look like the place they are hiding. Since their prey doesn’t see them, they can strike without warning.
How are the emperor and Galapagos penguins similar in physical appearance?
The penguins both have an aerodynamic body shape that makes them good swimmers, and they both have black backs and white bellies.
What is the first challenge a baby sea turtle must overcome after hatching?
After hatching, baby sea turtles use a special egg tooth (carbuncle) to dig up through the sand. Then they must run to the ocean to avoid being eaten by predators.
According to the text, why did ancient invent stories of mythical sea creatures?
People likely invented stories of sea monsters because the ocean was (and is) still mostly a mystery, and people sometimes encountered strange creatures.
Which part of a typical shark attack tells you that sharks don’t usually want to eat humans?
Sharks usually bite a human once or twice and then leave, instead of actually eating the human.
How do some fish camouflage themselves as plants?
The leafy sea dragon has long, leaflike fins. The trumpetfish floats vertically to blend in with seagrass.
How are the emperor and Galapagos penguins’ eating habits different?
Galapagos penguins eat tropical fish year-round and do not need to migrate, while emperor penguins migrate up to 50 miles to the ocean for months at a time to eat krill.
What animals prey on sea turtles as babies? As adults?
Hatchlings’ predators include birds, crabs, and fish. Adults’ predators include sharks and killer whales.
Why did explorers confuse manatees for mermaids?
A manatee’s head and front flippers have shapes similar to a human’s, so explorers might have confused them with mermaids.
Why do sharks sometimes mistakenly attack humans?
Sharks may become confused when they see a shape that looks like their usual food, they may be attracted by flashes of light, or it may be hard for them to see in water with low visibility.
Why is the cuttlefish called the “chameleon of the sea”?
The cuttlefish can change its skin to match a variety of colors, just like the chameleon.
How do emperor penguins survive the freezing cold in Antarctica?
Emperor penguins have thick layers of fat and feathers to protect them from the cold, and they huddle together in groups for warmth.
How did researchers learn about hatchlings’ lives after they reach the ocean?
Researchers tagged several young sea turtles and were able to track them as they moved with ocean currents.
What clues about oarfish make it fit the descriptions of a mythical sea serpent?
Oarfish are long fish with red crests on their heads and down their backs, similar to descriptions of sea serpents.
What is dangerous about swimming in murky ocean water?
Murky water makes it hard for the shark to see, and it may attack a human by mistake.
What is unique about the mimic octopus’s camouflage?
The mimic octopus is unique because it can imitate several other animals, not just one.
How do Galapagos penguins stay cool in their tropical environment?
To stay cool, Galapagos penguins live in caves to stay out of the sun and often stand upright with their flippers spread out to release extra body heat.
Why don’t male sea turtles usually come ashore?
Most male sea turtles live their entire lives in the ocean, while females come ashore only to lay eggs.
What characteristics of the kraken probably led sailors to assume it was dangerous?
The giant squid’s enormous size and huge tentacles probably made it look extremely frightening to sailors.
What is the most important tip in the passage for preventing a shark attack? Why?
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You should refer to one of the solutions found in paragraph 4 and give a reason why it is the most important.
If you were a fish, which camouflage skill would you rather have? Why?
students should mention one of the four types of camouflage in the article and give a reason.
Why is the Galapagos penguin population declining?
The Galapagos penguin population is declining because of disease, predators, and periodic food shortages.
What challenges does a nesting female face on the beach?
Female sea turtles must sometimes leave their nesting beaches due to light from human development and curious human visitors.
According to the text, how do stories of legendary sea creatures affect us today?
The text says that these animals remind us how much we still don’t know about the ocean.