Posts tagged with "lizard"

Reading Comprehension: Lizards

Posted by Rachel No Comments
May 14 2010

Today we’re going to look at an article about lizards and global warming. Have a read and try to answer the questions.

Aquecimento global já leva populações de lagartos à extinção, Estadão

Excerpt: “O aquecimento global está inviabilizando a sobrevivência de várias populações de lagartos, reduzindo o tempo em que os animais  se mantêm ativos para buscar comida e gerar filhotes, diz estudo internacional publicado a revista Science. Pelo menos 5% das espécies existentes já estão comprometidas, afirma o pesquisador brasileiro Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha, um dos autores do estudo. Rocha é professor do Departamento de Ecologia do Instituto de Biologia da UERJ.”

Questions

1. Where does the scientist in the article work? Where did the study take place?

2. Why is global warming contributing to lizard extinction?

3. The scientist studied the Liolaemus lutzae species, found in Rio de Janeiro. How many populations used to exist, and how many have disappeared?

4. What does the Science article predict will happen in 2080?

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Unexpected Creatures

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 22 2008

Last week, after Madonna’s departure from Rio de Janeiro, two unexpected guests appeared: a Teiu lizard and a mother and baby whale.

The lizard, unusual in cities, was spotted in the Botanical Gardens. The largest lizard in South America, it  inhabits forest areas south of the Amazon where it eats eggs, fruit, and small vertebrates. According to biologists, the lizard most likely made a home in the Amazon section of the park, which has ample sunlight, but less visitors. They also speculated that the lizard is a female making a nest. Click here to see the lizard in action.

The whale and its offspring were spotted in the water off the coast of Copacabana. Biologists say they are a tropical, migratory species that grow up to fifteen meters in length. The species often frequent the waters of southern Brazil in the spring and summer. Click here to see video footage.

Also last week, President Lula signed a decree to ban dolphin and whale hunting in Brazilian waters.

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