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Where Do Platypus Live? — Reading Comprehension

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MS-LS1-1

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This engaging science reading passage, titled "Where Do Platypus Live? Finding Australia's Elusive Swimmer," explores the specific habitat of the unique Platypus. Aligned with NGSS Life Science standards, particularly MS-LS2-1 (Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems), the passage details the Platypus's native range in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. It describes their preferred freshwater environment, including rivers, streams, and lakes, and highlights their fascinating burrows dug into riverbanks for shelter and breeding. The text emphasizes their aquatic lifestyle, showcasing their adaptations for swimming, and stresses the critical importance of clean water and healthy ecosystems for their survival. This resource is excellent for fostering reading comprehension, expanding vocabulary related to animal habitats and ecology, and raising awareness about conservation efforts needed to protect this extraordinary part of global biodiversity.

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The amazing Platypus, with its unique bill and waterproof fur, calls a very specific part of the world home. If you want to spot this elusive and unique animal in the wild, you'll need to travel to Eastern Australia and the island state of Tasmania! This is the only place on Earth where wild platypuses live.

Platypuses are aquatic mammals, meaning they spend a lot of their time in water. Their preferred habitat includes freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes. They love clear, slow-moving water with muddy banks and plenty of underwater vegetation or fallen logs where they can find food and hide.

These fascinating creatures are expert swimmers and divers. They have special webbed feet that act like paddles when they swim. When they are not hunting for food underwater, they build complex homes called burrows in the riverbanks. These burrows can be very long, with many tunnels and chambers, providing a safe place to sleep, raise their young, and escape from predators.

The health of the freshwater ecosystems in Australia is vital for the platypus. They need clean water and intact riverbanks to thrive. Due to habitat destruction and pollution, the platypus population is facing challenges, making conservation efforts extremely important to protect this extraordinary part of biodiversity.

Fun Fact: When a platypus dives underwater, it closes its eyes, ears, and nostrils! It uses special electroreceptors in its bill to sense the tiny electrical impulses given off by its prey.

Where do wild platypuses live?

Africa and AsiaNorth America and EuropeEastern Australia and TasmaniaSouth America and Antarctica

What kind of water do platypuses prefer?

Salty ocean waterHot spring waterClear, slow-moving freshwaterPolluted pond water

What type of homes do platypuses build in riverbanks?

NestsDensBurrowsCaves

What does "aquatic mammal" mean?

A mammal that flies.A mammal that lives in water.A mammal that lives in trees.A mammal that eats fish.

What do platypuses use their webbed feet for?

Digging tunnels.Walking on land.Swimming like paddles.Holding food.

Why are healthy freshwater ecosystems important for platypuses?

They need ocean water.They need clean water and banks.They need fast-moving rivers.They prefer dirty water.