"Animal Behaviors: Animal Defenses"

Read “Shells” on pages 46–49 of Animal Behavior: Animal Defenses by Christina Wilsdon and answer the questions below.

Definition:

· Scutes: Tough scales that are found in the skin of reptiles and the shells of most turtles and tortoises

1. Part A: How does the box turtle use its shell to protect itself?

• It uses the lower section of its shell to close the opening in its shell.

• It pulls its head into the shell and folds its legs in front to form a shield.

• It seals the shell’s opening with a hard plate on the end of the foot.

• It rolls up into an armor-plated ball.

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Part B: Which detail from the text supports the answer in Part A on how the box turtle uses its shell to protect itself?

• “Box turtles have hinged plastrons …”

• “A turtle can stay inside its shell for hours, waiting for a predator to give up.”

• “… pulls its head and its muscular foot inside the shell.”

• “… have shells made of eight plates.”

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According to the text, why is it important that animals like turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams have shells?

• They spend much or all of their lives in water.

• The shell is basically a sturdy box made of bone and includes the animal’s spine and ribs.

• They can burrow to hide from predators or roll up into a ball.

• The animals can tuck their soft bodies into their shells faster than they can move away from the predator.

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1. Part A: Read the sentence from Paragraph 1 of “Shells.”

A sturdy shell is the primary defense for a variety of very slow-moving animals, such as turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams.

What is the meaning of the word “variety” as it is used in the sentence?

• similar

• species

• assortment

• few

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Which detail from the text helps the reader understand the meaning of “variety”?

• “… such as turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams.”

• “These bones include the turtle’s spine and ribs.”

• “Some turtles have just a few scutes embedded in a thick skin on the carapace.”

• “Many bivalves burrow deeply in sand or mud to stay hidden from predators, such as seabirds.”

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1. What is the meaning of the word “tough” as it is used in Paragraph 4 of “Shells”?

• tough: able to put up with trouble or hardship

• tough: difficult to do or understand

• tough: not easily influenced

• tough: hard to break; strong; lasting a long time

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Which detail from the text helps the reader understand the meaning of “tough”?

• “Both have shells made of two parts: an upper section called the carapace and a lower section called the plastron.”

• “… the same substance that forms hooves and fingernails.”

• “Some turtles have just a few scutes embedded in a thick skin on the carapace.”

• “It hangs on tightly enough to prevent being washed away by waves.”

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Check ALL of the examples of how shells protect animals.

• Many turtles can pull their heads, tails, and legs partly or fully into their shells.

• Limpets seal the shell’s opening with a hard plate at the end of their foot and use the foot like a suction cup to help grip rocks firmly.

• Some mollusks can partly or fully close their shell around their body.

• Sea turtles have lightweight shells so they can swim away from predators quickly.

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What was the main idea of the text, "Shells"? Give 1 supporting text evidence.

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