Animal Reputations By: Abigale Walsh, Mr. Goldfarb s Class, 3/27/2015
Table Of Contents Introduction...pg. 1 Radical Rats..pg. 1 2 Superb Sharks..pg. 2 Super Snakes...pg. 3 Conclusion.pg. 3 4 Sources..pg. 5
Introduction I learned amazing things while researching for this paper. For example, a rat can see 20 30 ft. in front of itself at night and a snake s skin is flexible as its scales protect the skin. Also, shark s jaws can be used for wall hangings. The point is, most animals have a reason to fear people, although, most people don t have a reason to fear certain animals. Tons of animals are killed each day by us. This is definitely one of the reasons for animal extinction. Humans fear animals because we don t understand them or because they attack to defend. Animals are judged on how they look and how they defend themselves. These animals aren t bad, we make them bad. What is a rat? A rat is a rodent, which is a type of mammal that is often small. Rats can be white, golden, grey, brown, or black. Similar to sharks, rats are judged on their appearance. Sharks have sharp teeth and rats have wiggly tails. Rats can adapt to almost anywhere from freezing forests to scorching hot deserts. When rats adapt to a new place they also have to adapt to the food they will eat. If a rat lived in the desert it would eat bugs, small snakes, and scorpions. As you can see rats are smart survivors that aren t all that scary. Radical Rats
Rat Reputations Some people think rats are gross rodents. But, the truth is, rats are blamed for things they didn t do. In 1348 rats were thought to spread the disease plague (PLAY g). But really, fleas on the rats bit them, and then jumped on humans and spread the disease. During the time plague was spreading, people would hide in their houses and lock their doors, but now we know rats can find other ways to get inside. Rats don t do anything wrong. They are just trying to live as we force them to the sewers. Luckily, the sewers are just fine for rats because they can survive almost anywhere. Superb Sharks What is a shark? Sharks are fish that are known for launching attacks on people and their sharp, pointy teeth. They have pitch black eyes that they never close. Even when they're sleeping! Sharks can be white, grey or even blue. As I said before, sharks are known for their sharp, pointy teeth. A shark s main weapon is their teeth. Sharks kill and eat their prey with their teeth. Sharks teeth fall out easily, but, they fix this problem by always having teeth in reserve. Sharks are blamed for attacking people, but really they just are defending themselves or you look like lunch on your surfboard. People should have a right to blame sharks partially, but people blame all sharks even though shark attacks against people are extremely rare. Shark Reputations Some people may think sharks are big, scary fish. But, the truth is sharks are blamed for launching attacks on us. Yet only (about) 100 attacks are recorded every year. Millions of sharks are killed every year. More sharks are attacked than humans in a lifetime. When a shark is killed, their skin is turned to leather for boots, belts, wallets, and purses. Their teeth are used for jewelry and jaws used for wall hangings. When and if a human is killed by a shark they keep their skin, teeth, and jaws. The point is, a shark isn t all that bad. We hurt and kill more sharks than countable.
Super Snakes What is a snake? A snake is a reptile with no arms or legs that slithers around on its belly. A snake has scales that protects its stretchy skin. Snakes can live just about anywhere except some islands and where it s very cold. Like rats, snakes can adapt very easily. How snakes eat is one reason they are feared. They sink their fangs into their prey, spreading venom through the animal s body, and killing it. Instead of chewing their prey, snakes swallow it whole. Snakes fangs are filled with venom. If we stay out of each others way we don t have to worry. Snake Reputations King Cobras, Anacondas, Titanoboas. These are just some of the snakes that are feared and poisonous. Poison is one of the reasons snakes are made out to be villians. Snakes also have fangs which carry venom, which carries poison. People don t realize the good things about snakes, like they eat pests such as rats and mice. There are also the snakes that kill their prey in ways we wouldn t want to think of, like the boa constrictor which suffocates it s prey. Snakes are reptiles, NOT living poison. Conclusion If i ve learned anything while writing this research paper it s don t judge a book by its cover. I have definitely changed my mind about these animals, yet some people might have an everlasting fear. I ve learned these animals aren t just misunderstood, they re innocent. Hundreds of animals are judged on how they look and how they defend themselves.
Sources 1. Stone, Lynn. Sharks and people. Florida. The Rourke Corporation, 1996 2. Marrin, Albert. Oh Rats!. New York. Penguin Group, 2006 3. Mason, Adrienne. Snakes. New York. Kids Can Press Wildlife series, 2005 Glossary Extinction: When an animal or a plant species dies out. Appearance: The way something looks. Adapt: When animals or humans get used to a new place. Pitch Black: Something that is undoubtedly black, like the night sky sometimes. Partially: Part of, somewhat, or a little bit. Venom: A poisonous liquid that is often found in snakes.