Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources
Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources
Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Animal Themes
Endangered Animals Theme Unit
Reptiles
Tuataras

Animal Themes
Animal Themes


Tuataras
Print Tuataras Reading Comprehension


Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 7 to 9
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.31

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    reclassify, best, serrations, sole, groundbreaking, incubation, so-called, descendents, spiny, untended, risky, extinction, prominent, unclear, pointed, thus
     content words:    New Zealand, Albert Gunther, British Museum, When European

Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Tuátaras


Tuataras   

1     Living on thirty or so small islands off the coast of New Zealand, tuataras have loose, scaly skin of grayish brown. Adults grow to be 24 inches in length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They have pointed crests running down their necks, backs, and tails. This specific feature, more prominent on males than on females, is actually how tuataras got their name. You see, in Maori, the word "tuatara" means "spiny back."
 
2     Like several other lizard species, tuataras have a so-called "third eye." This additional eye is found on the top of their heads. The eye has a rudimentary lens and retina, and it is best seen when tuataras are young. As they grow, it is covered with a layer of skin and becomes less obvious. It's unclear whether tuataras' "third eye" has any specific function. It may be a light receptor.
 
3     Despite looking very much alike, tuataras differ from lizards in several ways. For example, tuataras do not have eardrums and middle ears, whereas lizards do.

Paragraphs 4 to 8:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable



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Animal Themes
             Animal Themes


Endangered Animals Theme Unit
             Endangered Animals Theme Unit


Reptiles
             Reptiles



Animals
    Amphibians  
 
    Birds  
 
    Deserts  
 
    Fish  
 
    Freshwater  
 
    Grasslands  
 
    Insects  
 
 
    Invertebrates  
 
    Mammals  
 
    Oceans  
 
    Polar Regions  
 
    Rain Forest  
 
    Reptiles  
 



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