One of the main reasons we have come to KangarooIsland is to study the ecosystems of echidnas and goannas.

In this lesson you are going to do some research on echidnas goannas and penguins

Echidnas are very special animals that are found in large parts of Australia.

 You are going to research about echidnas to answer the following questions:

1.                  What is so special about the way that echidnas breed compared with marsupials?

2.                  Juvenile echidnas are called “puggles”. Find out what you can about puggles – eg how long does the mother look after them, how quickly do they grow

3.                  How long have echidnas been on the earth and how long have humans been on earth?

4.                  Why do echidnas have spines?

5.                  What doe echidnas eat and how do they eat them.

6.                  Where else in the world are echidnas found and are they the same type of echidna.

7.                  The echidnas here seem to have more fur than the ones in CapeRange – why would that be?

8.                  Although echidnas seem to occur in a large area of Australia, Peggy Rismiller, who lives here and is the world expert, seems to think their numbers are declining. List as many reasons that you can think of for this observation.

9.                  Are echidnas classed as endotherms or ectotherms? Explain what these terms mean.

Goannas

Research goannas to answer the following questions:

1. What animal group do goannas belong to? Name some other types of animals in this group.
2. How do goannas reproduce and do they look after their young?
3. Do Rosenberg’s Goannas occur in CapeRange?
4. Are goannas ectotherms or endotherms?
5. Are goannas important to any particular people in Australia and why?
6. The goannas on KI dig holes in termite mounds to lay their eggs – then the termites cover up the hole. List as many reasons as you think why goannas might do this.
7. What predators would young goannas possibly have?

Penguins

Last night we went looing for Fairy Penguins on one of the beaches and we were fortunate to find some.

1.                  What group of animals do penguins belong to?

2.                  What is so special about Fairy Penguins?

3.                  Are they ectotherms or endotherms?

4.                  How do penguins keep warm? Investigate all the different strategies they might use – make sure you find out what part their feet have in keeping warm.

5.         What predators do you think the penguins would have?

What possible links do you think there are between the ecosystems of these 3 types of animals?