Jeff Corwin:
Madagascar Island
Ecosystem
Glue the video page on page
20 (FAF) of your notebook.
Fill in the worksheet as you
watch the video. We will go
over the answers to allow you
to fix/add any you miss.
Part 1
1. Near what continent is Madagascar located?
Africa
2. What is unique about the large chameleon's feet?
The "toes" are fused together to use as a climbing tool.
(Zygodactylism)
3. What about their eyes? How does it help them?
They can move independently of each other. It allows them to
see in many directions.
4. What does the color of a chameleon tell you?
It's mood (or emotions).
Part 1
1. Near what continent is Madagascar located?
Africa
2. What is unique about the large chameleon's feet?
The "toes" are fused together to use as a climbing tool.
(Zygodactylism)
3. What about their eyes? How does it help them?
They can move independently of each other. It allows them to
see in many directions.
4. What does the color of a chameleon tell you?
It's mood (or emotions).
5. Why are most of the creatures living on Madagascar not found
anywhere else in the world?
It's been isolated from the rest of the world.
6. What percentage of creatures are found only on the island? _____%
90
7. How many new species are discovered each year? 5
8. Which is larger: female or male tomato frog? Why?
Females are often twice the size as the males.
9. What is an indicator species?
A species that gives us clues about the state of an ecosystem.
NOTE: The frogs are sensitive to their ecosystems. They
breath with their lungs and through their skin.
10. What defense does the tomato frog have?
They secrete a gooey, thick substance that gums up when it
mixes with saliva.
Questions?
Part 2
11. How old was the oldest dinosaur ever found on the island?
225 million years
12. Tenrecs are mammals that are classified as insectivores. What does
this tell us about their diet?
They eat insects along with worms, frogs, and other small
critters.
13. How do they use their whiskers?
They are used to detect the movements of their prey.
14. How big is the mouse lemur? About the size of your palm.
15. How do lemurs mark their territory?
Rub their rectum on a branch to leave behind chemical clues
for other lemurs.
16. How does the panther chameleon scare away predators?
He puffs up with air to make himself look bigger and fierce.
17. How long is its tongue?
It can stretch out more than the length of its body.
18. How many different species of chameleons can be found on the
island?
60
19. How does the Brookesia minima (dwarf chameleon) protect itself
from predators?
It is colored to match the trees and its limbs look like sticks.
Questions?
Part 3
20. How does the Madagascar tree boa kill its prey?
It squeezes its body around its prey and suffocates it in a
process called constriction.
21. How does the leaf-tailed gecko protect itself from predators?
It is colored to blend in with its surrounding, such as wood and
bark. It also used mimicry and looks like lichen or moss.
22. What is the mission of the sanctuary?
The conservation of lemurs through outreach and education as
well as the breeding of species.
23. How many species of lemurs are found on the island?
30 to 32 (Only found on the island)
24. How are the white-fronted lemurs classified: herbivore, carnivore,
or omnivore? Omnivore
25. How do males differ from females?
The males have the white fur around its head and chest, while
the females are mostly brown.
26. What is the name for the special curved claw that is used for
grooming?
It is a “toilet” claw that is used for grooming.
Questions?
Part 4
27. How would the Aye-aye lemur be classified: diurnal or nocturnal?
Nocturnal
28. What is their best sense?
Hearing - able to hear insect movements
29. What is unique about the Greater Dwarf lemur's eyes?
It has depth perception.
30. What is unique about their feet?
They look like human feet.
31. How does it use its tail for survival?
It can store up to 30% of its body weight as fat
32. What does the katydid mimic?
A leaf with veins and patches that appear to be a dead part.
33. What does the word "cryptic" mean?
Camouflaged or colored in a way to blend in
34. What defense mechanisms do the leaf-nosed snakes have?
Venom and able to blend in
35. How is the Brown mouse lemur classified: rodent, marsupial, or
primate? Primate
36. What is its best sense?
Hearing
37. What threats do they face? Habitat destruction (only 30% left)
Challenge: IDENTIFY at least 3 animals from the video for each category of defense
mechanisms in the table. DESCRIBE how they use the defense.
NOTE: You can use the same critter TWICE!
Item
Example #1
Example #2
Example #3
Physical
Appearance
Leaf-nosed snake
Female = Camo
Dwarf Chameleon
Camo, looks like twig
Katydid
Colored like green and dead
leaves
Weapons
Or Tools
Large Chameleon
Fused toes used for
climbing
Tomato Frog
Has nasty stuff that
gunks up in predator’s mouth
Senses
Large Chameleon
Eyes move on their own
(different directions)
Tenrecs
Use whiskers to find insects
& other food
Aye-Aye
Good hearing
Chemical
Leaf-nosed snake
Venom
Tomato Frog
Has nasty stuff that
gunks up
White-fronted Lemurs
Use scat and urine to mark
territory
Special
Behaviors
White-fronted Lemur
Rubs rectum on branches
to mark territory
Tree Boa
Uses body to constrict and
kill prey
Panther Chameleon
Puffs up to look bigger and
scare predators
Aye-Aye
Claws used for getting food