How the Blue Dragon Stores Venom — Reading Comprehension

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This audio-integrated passage introduces students to the fascinating world of the blue dragon sea slug, an amazing marine creature. It explains how this small sea slug, known for its vibrant blue color, uses its internal structures to store venom for defense against predators. The passage defines key terms like 'cnidocytes' and 'nematocysts,' providing an engaging look into animal survival strategies. Aligned with NGSS LS1.A: Structure and Function, students will learn about how an organism's body parts have specific roles for its survival. This content includes reading comprehension questions, a glossary, and short answer questions to reinforce learning about marine biology and defense mechanisms.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Blue dragon sea slug stores stinging cells in cerata to defend against predators. — Blue dragon uses stolen nematocysts from prey to sting predators and survive.

Imagine a tiny, beautiful creature floating upside down on the ocean's surface, shimmering with electric blue and silver. This is the amazing blue dragon sea slug, also known as Glaucus atlanticus. Despite its small size, this marine animal has a surprising secret weapon: it can deliver a powerful sting! But how does a sea slug, which doesn't make its own venom, manage this?

The blue dragon sea slug is a master of adaptation. It eats other venomous sea creatures, particularly the Portuguese man o' war, which is famous for its painful sting. When the blue dragon eats a Portuguese man o' war, it doesn't digest the stinging cells. Instead, it carefully collects and stores them.

These special stinging cells are called cnidocytes, and inside each cnidocyte is a tiny, harpoon-like structure called a nematocyst. The blue dragon has special finger-like appendages, called cerata, on its body. These cerata are designed to hold onto the undigested nematocysts from its prey. The slug moves these nematocysts to the tips of its cerata, where they are ready for use.

When a predator, like a bird or a bigger fish, tries to eat the blue dragon, the slug releases these stored nematocysts. The predator gets a painful sting, much like being stung by a Portuguese man o' war itself! This clever strategy provides the blue dragon with an effective defense mechanism, protecting it from harm. This internal structure, the cerata, has a specific function: to store venom for survival. This allows the small blue dragon to thrive in the open ocean, even though it looks delicate.

Interesting Fact: The blue dragon sea slug floats upside down because it has an air bubble in its stomach, which helps it stay afloat on the ocean's surface.

What does the blue dragon sea slug eat?

JellyfishSmall fishPortuguese man o' warSeaweed

What are the harpoon-like structures called?

CerataCnidocytesNematocystsVenom sacs

The blue dragon sea slug makes its own venom.

TrueFalse

Why does the blue dragon store venom?

To attract matesFor self-defenseTo catch preyTo help digestion

Which word means a special feature that helps an organism survive?

CnidocytesAdaptationNematocystFunction

What part of the blue dragon holds nematocysts?

Its stomachIts headIts cerataIts mouth