Tuatara

Tuatara

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about finding information in a text.
tuatara-photokete-250h.jpg
 Fact file:

  • The tuatara is found only in New Zealand.
  • Tuatara are now found only on small islands off the coast of New Zealand because of animals such as wild cats, rodents, and pigs.
  • Tuatara are carnivores, they eat insects and sometimes small lizards.
  • A tuatara can live up to 100 years.
  • The female lays 8-15 eggs once every 3 to 4 years.
  • There are 50,000-60,000 tuatara left; but half of these are found on one island; Stephens Island in Cook Strait.

Question 2Change answer

a)  Why are tuatara not found in the North or South Island?

Question

b)  Which one of the following animals would the tuatara be most likely to eat?

    • Small birds

    • Rats

    • Beetles

    • Frogs

Question 2Change answer

c)  Which one part of the tuatara breeding pattern may have helped cause a decrease in their numbers?

Question 2Change answer

d)  On some offshore islands where tuatara are found there are still kiore or Polynesian rats.
     How could this rat affect the numbers of tuatara?
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Copyright: 
tuatara-photokete-250h.jpg
 
This image, copyright to PhotoKete, is used by permission, and can be freely used for NZ educational purposes.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Science, Understanding about science, Living World
Keywords: 
ecology, endangered species, tuatara, conservation
Description of task: 
Students are provided with a fact file on the tuatara. Students answer four questions that are based on information contained in the fact file.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.

Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss the importance in science of using provided information to make inferences.    
Science capability: Gather and interpret data (Tāhūrangi)
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Answers/responses: 
 

Y6 (05/1999)
a) Any 1 of:

  • Because of wild cats/rodents/pigs.
  • An explanation of how these animals might harm tuatara.
 easy
b) C (Beetles) very easy
c) Any 1 of:

  • Breed only every 3-4 years.
  • Do not lay enough eggs.
 difficult
d) Any 1 of:

  • The rats eat tuatara eggs.
  • The rats eat young tuatara.
  • The rat eats similar food to the tuatara.
  • Rats reduce ground vegetation and seedlings. [Do not accept: "rats eat them".]
 difficult
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common errors
d) 59% of the wrong answers mentioned e.g., rats killing adult tuatara.