back to index ofchapters1. Why are sharks and saltwater crocodiles called aggressors?
Ans. Both will attack man without provocation
2. Describe a Great White Shark using your own words and a sketch diagram.
Ans. Students own words and diagram draw from Figure 16.1.
3. What features of the Great White shark make it an efficient predator?
Ans. Streamlining, speed, size, mouth structure, sight, intelligence
4. Why is the tiger shark called a scavenger?
Ans. Prefers the easier food gathering method.
5. Describe how you can reduce the risk of shark attack.
Ans. Don't enter water: alone, at dusk or dawn, isolated and murky, nearriver mouths or seal colonies or where sharks have been seen previously,with bleeding cuts.
Don't clean fish close to shore, look around carefully while surfacingfrom a dive and stay in groups if shipwrecked
6. Explain, in step form, what you would do if your nearby diving orsurfing buddy was attacked by a shark
Ans. Remove from water, apply pressure bandage for any wounds, keep warmand get medical assistance as soon as possible.
7. What is the size and life-span of a saltwater crocodile?
Ans. Up to 8 metres and 100 years
8. How is a crocodile able to open its mouth underwater?
Ans. A special tissue which closes to stop water from entering the gullet.
9. Describe the features which make the crocodile such an efficient predator.
Ans. Size, speed, intelligence, mouth structure
10. Why don't crocodiles make good pets?
Ans. Are very territorial and will regard familiarity as an increasingthreat.
11. How can you tell the difference between when a shark is in an aggressivemood compared to a non aggressive mood?
Ans. When a shark is in an aggressive mood, its pectoral fins will bedown.
12. Describe ways to avoid crocodile attack.
Ans. Don't enter the water in their areas, don't visit the same spotnear a rivers edge on a regular basis and suspend a rope container froma steep bank if collecting water.
13. What are the disadvantages of laying shark nets off popular beaches?
Ans. Is not specific - kills too many harmless sharks and other species.
14. Why don't we destroy all Great White sharks and saltwater crocodilesto avoid fatal attacks on humans?
Ans. Important to ocean food chains and our questionable right to doso. Keeps other predator numbers down so to allow increased numbers of lowerorder food chain members. See Chapters 15 and 19.
15. Describe how a stingray defends itself.
Ans. Raises its barbed tail vertically.
16. How can you avoid being stung by a box jellyfish?
Ans. Don't enter water, especially during the wet season, wear a wetsuitor pantihose on exposed parts.
17. Why is it often necessary to perform CPR on a victim of a jellyfishor blue-ringed octopus sting?
Ans. Paralysis causes circulatory and breathing failure.
18. Give two reasons why the stonefish is potentially dangerous to humans.
Ans. Is very well camouflaged and has highly toxic venom.
19. Explain why sea-snakes are not regarded as a serious threat to humans.
Ans. Non aggressive towards us and most are limited by small mouth size.
20. Describe how a cone shell catches its prey or defends itself fromattack.
Ans. Releases a venomous harpoon.
21. Why don't victims of the blue-ringed octopus realise they have beenbitten?
Ans. Pain ling anaesthetic is released with the venom.
22. Give two reasons why it is difficult to avoid being stung by bluebottlejellyfish.
Ans. Long trailing tentacles, shifted around rapidly by currents andwave action.
23. How can you tell if a blue-ringed octopus is upset?
Ans. Blue rings become prominent.
This information is also published for students on the Internet site:
http://www.wetpaper.com.au/student
1. Go to the library and see if you can locate and view the CD Rom: DangerousMarine Animals
Suggestions:
Ask your librarian to find the CD ROM.
2. If a stonefish only uses its venom for defence, how does it catchprey?
Suggestions:
Ask the prey dies quickly from the poison, it will end up close buy.The stonefish will then feed off the dead remains.
3. Select and name 2 other species of shark that although not aggressive,have the potential to be harmful to humans.
a. Using a sketch describe their physical structure, their usual dietand how they obtain food or prey
Suggestions:
Locate a book on sharks and find the hammerhead and whaler sharks.
b. Explain the extent to which they may be harmful.
Suggestions:
See information in book
4. Research how different cultures view dangerous marine creatures.
a. Find out about totems
Suggestions.
Many books on Pacific Island people contain traditions and customs.
b. Research the role sharks and crocodiles play in different culturalbeliefs.
Suggestions:
The shark was often considered good luck by some Islander People. Useyour research to see if this is true.
5. Research the role sharks played in Aboriginal or Pacific Island cultures.
Suggestions.
Try looking under initiation ceremonies. Look at the video on Salt WaterPeople from Wet Paper.
This information is also published for students on the Internet site:
http://www.wetpaper.com.au/student
1. respect
2. enjoy
3. whale
4. plankton
5. tiger
6. aggressive
7. Crocodiles
8. prey
9. days
10. attacking
11. rays
12. flee
13. meter
14. repel
15. flippers
16. gloved