Amazing Animals handling collection - National … Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack...

Amazing Animals handling collection

National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack

Amazing Animals handling collectionTeacher’s notes

Welcome to the National Museum of Scotland.

Our Amazing Animals handling collection contains 15 real animal specimens from our zoology collections. By examining them you will be able to use observation, investigation, discussion, identification and comparison skills.

These notes include• Detailsabouteachspecimen

• Imagesforeachspecimen

• Aglossaryofusefulwords

Good handling guideThe collection is used by lots of different groups so we’d like your help to keep the collection in good condition. Please follow these guidelines for working with the objects and talk them through with your group.

1. No food or drink should be brought into the room or consumed during your session

2. Always wear gloves (provided) when handling the specimens

3. Hands should be washed after handling specimens

4. Always hold specimens over a table and hold them in two hands

5. Don’ttouchorpointatspecimenswithpencils,pensorother sharp objects

6. Check the condition of specimens at the start and the end of your session

7. Please report any missing or broken items using the enclosed form


Amazing Animals handling collectionContents

Amazing Animals specimens1. Antelope horn

2 Badger skull

3. Baby crocodile

4. Elephant tooth

5. Elephant skin

6. Red fox skull

7. Gorilla skull

8. Grey lag goose wing

9. Horse’s leg

10. Leopard skin

11. Mole

12. Ostrich egg

13. Rabbit skull

14. Red deer

15. Smalltooth sawfish snout



1. Antelope hornWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Grasslands, brushlands, forests and deserts.

What eats it?They are hunted by lions, leopards, wild dogs, and other predators.

What is its food?Antelopes’ favourite food is grass but they also eat desert shrubs, young shoots, leaves and twigs.

Where in the world is it from?There are about 90 species of antelope; they live in Africa and parts of Asia.

What is its lifecycle?The antelope’s lifespan varies from 3 to 20 years depending on the species. Antelope give birth to 1 to 3 young after a pregnancy of 4 to 9 ½ months, depending on the species.

How is it affected or used by humans?Many species of antelope are hunted for their meat and skins and as trophies by big game hunters. Their horns are prized for supposed medicinal and magical powers and can also be made into musical instruments.

Desertantelopesdon’tneed water as they get enough moisture from the food they eat.

Did you know?

Amazing AdaptationsEyes Antelope have eyes that are positioned on the sides of their heads; their pupils are elongated length-ways (horizontally), giving them a broad view to spot danger from all around.

Legs Long, slender yet powerful legs allow antelopes to have a long stride and to run fast from predators.

Horns Antelope horns vary from very short to very long. Longer horns tend to belong to species where males compete to mate with several females. Some antelope horns can grow to almost 5 ft (1.5 m) long.Like all horns, they are not shed, but continue to grow throughout the antelope’s life.Inmanyspeciesofantelope the females also have horns, but they are smaller than the male’s horns.

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2. Badger skullWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Badgers live in burrows called setts that are dug into banks of earth often in woodlands.

What eats it?Badgers are not commonly hunted by any other animal, but the cubs can be prey to larger mammals like foxes, or birds.

What is its food?Mainly earthworms, but also insects, small mammals, birds and amphibians as well as fruit, fungi and roots.

Where in the world is it from?Across Europe and Asia from Britain to Afghanistan. Other species are found in the rest of Asia and Japan.

What is its lifecycle?Badgers live in structured groups that usually include about 6 adultstogetherwithyoungeranimals.Usuallyonlyonefemalebadger (sow) in the group will breed and give birth to a litter of 1–5 cubs between January and March. Cubs will spend about 8–10 weeks underground before emerging in May. Badgers can live for 7–8 years or sometimes longer.

How is it affected or used by humans?Road traffic in Britain kills around 50,000 badgers each year. ItisillegaltohuntbadgersintheUK,buttheyarestillkilledfortheir fur in other parts of the world. Badgers have a conservation status of least concern.

Adult badgers growl or bark as a warning and also purr.

Did you know?

Amazing AdaptationsFore legs These are particularly well developed and strong with long claws to help with digging, hunting and defence.

Nose Badgers have poor eyesight, but thanks to their long nose, they have an extremely sense of smell that is 700 to 800 times better than ours. Being able to pick up different scents is important when hunting for food.Itisalsoimportantbecause badgers use scent to communicate and to recognise each another.

Fur The badger’s bristly, thick coat protects it when digging. The black and white hair looks grey from a distance and is effective camouflage while the badger’s prominent striped head can be turned towards potential predators to act as a warning.

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Amazing Animals handling collectionDid you know?

3. Baby CrocodileWhat group does this animal belong to?Reptiles

Where does it live?Rivers, lakes and wetlands.

What eats it?Feral pigs, turtles, fish, sea eagles and other crocodiles may eat young crocodiles.

What is its food?Crocodiles eat fish, birds, mammals and occasionally smaller crocodiles.

Where in the world is it from?Throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia.

What is its lifecycle?Crocodiles lay around 30–100 eggs at a time, depending on the size and age of the mother. The eggs are placed in a nest that has been prepared by the mother and hatch after 2 or 3 months. The average lifespan of a crocodile in the wild is 45 years.

How is it affected or used by humans?Crocodiles have been hunted for their skin which can be made intofashionitemssuchasbelts,bagsandshoes.Inthe1940’sto 1960’s some types of crocodile almost became extinct owing to over-hunting. Local and international actions to protect crocodileshelpedtheirpopulationstoreboundinmostareas.Insome regions, though, pollution, hunting, and habitat loss have severely depleted their numbers.

How is it suited to where it lives?Jaws crocodiles feed by grabbing and holding onto their prey. Their powerful jaw muscles allow them to bite down with immense force and hold their jaws shut. They have by far the strongest bite of any animal and have sharp teeth that enable them to tear and hold onto flesh. Crocodiles can open their mouths underwater without breathing in water because of a flap of tissue at the back of their mouths that blocks the entry of water into their throats.

Scales crocodiles have skin that is armoured with thick scales, these provide protection from its harsh environment and from predators.

Streamlined body the shape of a crocodile’s body allowsittoswimfast.Itsshort legs can easily be tucked into its sides to help it remain streamlined.

Mummified crocodiles and crocodile eggs have been discovered in Ancient Egyptian tombs.

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4. Elephant toothWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Grasslands, brushlands, marshes and forests. Herds roam over great distances in search of food and water.

What eats it?An adult elephant is very large and strong and not easy prey. A young, old or sick elephant may become the victim of predators like lions. Elephants that have died make a good meal for jackals, hyaenas or vultures.

What is its food?Leaves, bark, fruit and herbs.

Where in the world is it from?Africa or Asia. African elephants and can be identified by their larger ears that look a bit like the continent of Africa.

What is its lifecycle?Elephants can live up to 70 years. Female elephants (cows) live in family herds with their young, but adult males (bulls) tend to roam on their own.

Elephants have a longer pregnancy than any other mammal—almost 22 months.

How is it affected or used by humans?Some African elephant populations remain endangered because they are hunted and killed for their tusks. This trade is illegal today, but has not yet been eliminated.

Asian elephants have been domesticated for hundreds of years. They are used to move heavy objects, to carry humans on their backs, and even to wage war.

Amazing Adaptations Trunk Elephants use their trunks for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking water and collecting food e.g. by reaching into trees. Trunks can also be used to blow water onto the elephant’s skin to keep it cool or to spray soil or mud which dries to form a protective sunscreen.

Ears Elephants release heat through their large ears to help keep them cool.

Tusks Both male and female African elephants have tusks which they use to dig for food and water and strip bark from trees. Males occasionally use their tusks to battle with each another.

The African savana elephant is the largest living land animal.

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5. Elephant skinWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Grasslands, brushlands, marshes and forests. Herds roam over great distances in search of food and water.

What eats it?An adult elephant is very large and strong and not easy prey. A young, old or sick elephant may become the victim of predators like lions. Elephants that have died make a good meal for jackals, hyaenas or vultures.

What is its food?Leaves bark fruit and herbs.

Where in the world is it from?Africa or Asia. African elephants and can be identified by their larger ears that look a bit like the continent of Africa.

What is its lifecycle?Elephants can live up to 70 years. Female elephants (cows) live in family herds with their young, but adult males (bulls) tend to roam on their own.

Elephants have a longer pregnancy than any other mammal—almost 22 months.

How is it affected or used by humans?Some African elephant populations remain endangered because they are hunted and killed for their tusks. This trade is illegal today, but has not yet been eliminated.

Asian elephants have been domesticated for hundreds of years. They are used to move heavy objects, to carry humans on their backs, and even to wage war.

Amazing AdaptationsTrunk Elephants use their trunks for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking water and collecting food e.g. by reaching into trees. Trunks can also be used to blow water onto the elephant’s skin to keep it cool.

Skin An elephant’s skin is extremely thick and tough and covered with wiry hair. Itprotectstheelephantfromits harsh environment as well as from would-be predators. To protect themselves from the sun and insect bites, elephants use their trunks to spray their skin with a further protective coating of mud.

Ears Elephants release heat through their large ears to help keep them cool.

Did you know?The African savana elephant is the largest living land animal.

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6. Red fox skullWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Foxes are able to adapt quickly to new habitats and can be found in a huge variety of places from urban areas to low-lying marshes and mountains. Foxes live in dens or earths that are dug by themselves or other animals.

What eats it?InBritainfoxesarenothuntedbyanypredatorsotherthanpeople.

What is its food?Foxes eat a wide variety of food, including rabbits, rodents and other small mammals, reptiles, amphibians. They also eat birds fruits and berries.

Where in the world is it from?

Foxes are common throughout the northern hemisphere. They have also been introduced by humans to Australasia.

What is its lifecycle?Foxes are social animals that live in family groups. They reproduce once a year in the spring and female foxes (vixens) are pregnant for about 50 days. The average litter size is 4–6 cubs. The young remain with their parents to assist in caring for new cubs until they are able to win their own territory. Most foxes only live for 2 to 3 years due to hunting, road accidents and diseases.

How is it affected or used by humans?Foxes have been hunted and trapped as pests, for sport and fortheirfur.Despitethis,theredfoxiswidespread.Ithasaconservation status of least concern.

Did you know?Untilrecentlyfoxescouldbe hunted with dogs in theUK,butthislong-established practice was outlawed in 2002.

Amazing AdaptationsTail A long, fluffy tail has a number of uses. By lashing its tail a fox can display aggression, by raising it into a horizontal position, a male fox can attract a mate. A fox is also able to curl up into a ball and stay warm underneath its tail.

Eyes As foxes are mainly nocturnal (active at night) they have developed excellent night vision. Foxes have a light-reflecting layer in their eyes called a tapetum lucidum; it is this layer that makes foxes’ eyes glow in the dark.

Ears Foxes have pointed ears positioned high on their heads that they can rotate to hear sounds coming from different directions when hunting. Their hearing is so sensitive that they are able to hear the squeaking of mice 100 metres away. Foxes also use the position of their ears to communicate with other foxes.

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7. Western lowland gorilla skullWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Intropicalforests.

What eats it?The gorilla is rarely eaten by other animals. Potential threats come from crocodiles or leopards.

What is its food?Fruits, roots, leaves, and shoots such as bamboo. Gorillas have also been seen to eat insects such as ants and termites.

Where in the world is it from?Africa. One species, the Western gorilla is found in lowland forests of west central Africa, while the Eastern gorilla is found in the lowlandandmountainforestsofRwanda,CongoandUganda.

What is its lifecycle?Gorillas live between 30 and 40 years in the wild and up to 50 yearsincaptivity.Inthewild,femalesmatureataround10yearsand males at 11 to 13 years.

Pregnancy lasts for 8½ months and infants stay with their mothers for 3 to 4 years.

How is it affected or used by humans?Gorillas have a conservation status of endangered. They are threatened by humans clearing the forests in which they live for farming and by the threat of diseases. Gorillas are also illegally hunted for meat. Only a few hundred eastern gorillas survive today.

Amazing Adaptations Hair Thick hair protects the skin from biting insects and helps keep gorillas warm especially in higher mountain ranges where night temperatures will often drop below freezing.

Arms Gorillas have larger muscles in their arms than in their legs (the opposite is true for humans). This gives them the strength to bend and gather foliage, climb trees, and is also helpful for defence.

Teeth Gorillas have 32 teeth (the same number as humans) which are large and strong, having adapted to the coarse vegetation they consume.

Gorillas have unique nose prints like we have unique fingerprints.

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8. Grey lag goose wingWhat group does the animal belong to?Birds.

Where does it live?Semi-tame greylag geese are found in many Southern lowland areasoftheUK,forexampleingrassyrivervalleysorinsuburbanparks with lakes. Wild geese that have migrated to Scotland fromIcelandforthewintercanbeseennorthoftheSolwayatanumber of RSPB nature reserves between September and April.

What eats it?Foxes, and peregrine falcons.

What is its food?Grass, roots, cereal leaves and spilled grain.

Where in the world is it from?Europe.

What is its lifecycle?Grey lag geese will choose a mate when they are about 3 years old. They will stay together and raise a family each year. Geese return to their area of birth to mate and nest. Female geese build nests in isolated spots on the ground near water. They usually lay about 5 eggs and incubate them (keep them warm) for about 30 days before they hatch. Grey lag geese can live for18 years.

How is it affected or used by humans?The grey lag goose is not endangered; its conservation status is least concern.

Amazing AdaptationsWings Grey lag geese have strong wings for flight. Flying allows the goose to avoid predators; it also means that it can migrate to better feeding grounds in the winter when food has become scarce. Goose feathers keep the bird warm in cold temperatures and are waterproof thanks to oil glands positioned near the tail.

Skeleton As with other birds, the skeleton of the goose is hollow which makes it lighter for flying.

Webbed feet These are ideal for swimming, helping to propel the bird’s body through water. Webbed feet can also be used to skid and glide when landing on water.

Goslings are able to dive and swim underwater when they are just 1 day old.

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9. Horse legWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Domesticatedhorsesarekeptinfieldswhileferalhorsesroamfreely in a variety of landscapes.

What eats it?Bears, wolves and pumas.

What is its food?Horses are natural grazers that feed on grass, plant materials, grain and fruit.

Where in the world is it from?Horses have been domesticated by humans and are widespread all over the world. Horses are found in North West America, Australia and some parts of Europe. Wild horses are found only in Mongolia or China where they were recently reintroduced.

What is its lifecycle?Female horses (mares) carry their young for approximately 11 months. A horse is called a foal until it is 6 months old. Horses reach adulthood when they are about 5 years old. The average lifespan of a domesticated horse is 20–25 years. Horses are socialanimals.Inthewildtheygatheringroupsledbyadominant male horse (stallion).

How is it affected or used by humans?Humans began to domesticate horses around 6000 years ago. Horses have been used in many parts of the world for transport, recreation and even to fight wars. Their meat is also eaten.

Adapted for survival Legs and hooves The horse leg is adapted for carying its heavy body at high speeds. With its elastic ligaments and tendons it works like a podo-stick to store energy when it’s galloping. Each hoof has only one broad toe, covered by a protective layer of keratin, the same material as a human fingernail. The hoof grows continuously so it is renewed when it is worn down by hard ground.

Tail This can be used to brush away biting insects and flies. Along with a horse’s ears, the tail can also be used to communicate feelings such as fear, irritation or anger.

Neck The horse has a long, strong neck that gives it extra height when it is lookingoutfordanger.Italso enables it to reach down to graze.

Horses can sleep standing up, this means they are ready to run away if danger approaches.

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10. Leopard skinWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals

Where does it live?Leopards are very adaptable; they can live in grasslands, mountains, woodlands, savanna, rainforest and desert terrains.

What eats it?Leopards do not have many predators, though they must compete for food and shelter with lions, tigers and hyaenas.

What is its food?A wide variety of prey including antelope and deer, monkeys, rodents, retiles and birds. Leopards can swim and sometimes eat fish or crabs.

Where in the world is it from?Sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, parts of Asia and as far north as the Russian far east.

What is its lifecycle?Female leopards can give birth at any time of the year. Pregnancy lasts about 3 months. They usually have between 2 and 4 cubs which live with their mothers for about 2 years. Leopards can reach 21 years of age in captivity.

How is it affected or used by humans?Many leopard populations are threatened, especially outside Africa.

The loss of habitats and the decline in prey populations mean that leopards are not as widely distributed as they once were.

Did you know?

Hunting leopards for their fur was once popular, but it is now illegal.

Amazing AdaptationsFur Leopards spend a great deal of time in tree branches where they rest, hunt and hide their kill from scavengers. Their spotted coats act as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with the dappled light of forests and grasslands. The leopard’s coat tends to be paler amongst desert populations, greyer in colder climates, and darker in rainforest habitats

Paws and claws The leopard’s paws are covered with soft pads and fur. These help the leopard to keep its balance on slippery rocks and tree branches and sneak up silently on prey. Leopard paws are strong and make formidable weapons with their razor sharp claws.

Muscles and skeleton A massive skull and powerful jaw muscles enable leopards to kill and carry largeprey.Itsshouldermuscles are very strong, enabling it to climb trees even when dragging a large kill.



11. MoleWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Moles live in an underground tunnel system in field, woodland and garden habitats.

What eats it?Moles emerge from their tunnels mainly at night to collect nesting material and look for food or new homes. At this time, they are vulnerable to predators like owls.

What is its food?Mainly earthworms, but it also eats insects and centipedes.

Where in the world is it from?This species can be found in much of Europe.

What is its lifecycle?

Young moles are born in spring time in an extra-large molehill, built by the mother and known as a fortress. Moles are pregnant for about 30 days and give birth to a litter of about 4 baby moles in a litter. At around 5 weeks old they leave the nest to find a new place to live, this is the most dangerous time for a mole. Moles live for up to 3 years.

How is it affected or used by humans?Moles have a conservation Status of least concern, meaning they arenotendangered.Insomecountriesmolesareaprotectedspecies, but in other countries they are sometimes considered pests by farmers and gardeners and they can be controlled with traps or poison.

Amazing Adaptations

Fur The fur of a mole is so soft that it can bend forward or backward without resistance. This is useful when the mole is moving backwards and forwards inside narrow tunnels. Moles also rely on their thick fur coats to stay warm and dry.

Nose Moles are practically blind, they don’t need good eyesight as they live mostly underground.Insteadtheyhave highly sensitive hairs around their pointed noses and the tips of their tails that allow them to find their way around and to sense food and water.

Paws Moles have powerful front paws with they use for digging. They do this by turning their front paws outwards and pushing dirt behind them. Moles pull earthworms between their paws before eating them to force soil out of the worm’s gut.

The saliva of moles contains a substance that paralyzes earthworms



Ostriches lay the largest egg of any living bird.

12. Ostrich eggWhat group does this animal belong to?Birds.

Where does it live?African savanna, shrublands and deserts.

What eats it?Lions and humans.

What is its food?Usuallyplants,roots,andseeds,butoccasionallyinsectssuchaslocusts.

Where in the world is it from?Africa.

What is its lifecycle?Ostrichesliveinsmallherdsoflessthanadozenbirds.Dominantmales maintain the herd. All of the group’s hens place their eggs in the dominant hen’s nest which the dominant hen and male take turns to incubate. Each egg weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs.

How is it affected or used by humans?The ostrich is not an endangered species though the wild ostrich population has declined over the last 200 years. Most surviving birds live in game parks or on farms.

Amazing AdaptationsLegs Ostriches have long, powerful legs that enable them to sprint up to 30–40 miles an hour and cover up to 5 metres in one stride. The legs make good weapons; ostrich kicks are so powerful that they can kill potential predators like lions.

Eyes Ostriches have very large eyes. They are around 5cm in diameter and help ostriches to see predators at a great distance. To protect their eyes from the sun and from sand storms, ostriches have long eyelashes.

Wings Ostriches cannot fly, but their large wings help them maintain balance and change direction when running. The wings can also be used to attract a mate or to shade chicks from the sun. Ostriches hide from predators by lying down flat on the ground, when they do this the dull colour of their feathers helps them to blend in with the earth.



13. Rabbit skullWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Rabbits dig burrows, or warrens often along the edges of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms.

What eats it?Rabbits have many predators including foxes, stoats and birds of prey.

What is its food?Rabbits graze mainly at night on grass, shoots, roots and herbs; theyalsofeedoncropsandgardenvegetables.Inwinter,theyeat coarser food like bark, twigs, and buds.

Where in the world is it from?Originally from Southern Europe, the rabbit has spread naturally and been introduced by humans to many parts of the world.

What is its lifecycle?Rabbits reproduce often; they can produce three or four litters per year with up to 10 young (kits) in each litter. Young rabbits are self-sufficient after about four or five weeks. Rabbits can live for 9–12 years on average.

How is it affected or used by humans?Rabbits have learned to coexist with humans, making homes in parks or gardens; they are also kept as pets and hunted and bred for their meat and fur. They have a conservation status of least concern.

Amazing AdaptationsEars Long ears allow rabbits to pick up the sound of nearby predators. They also rotate, allowing rabbits to hear in two directions at once.

Eyes The rabbit’s eyes are set high up and to the side ofitshead.Inadditiontoa flexible neck which allows the animal to rotate its head, this adaptation gives rabbits a good field of vision to spot food and predators.

Legs Rabbits have strong hind legs that allow them to run up to 16 metres per second and to change direction frequently to evade predators. They can also warn other rabbits of predators by thumping the ground with their hind legs. Rabbits have strong claws which give a good grip and help with burrowing.

Inordertogetaasmuchnutrition possible from the plants they eat, rabbits eat some of their own droppings. These are then re-digested in a special part of the gut.



14. Red deer antlerWhat group does this animal belong to?Mammals.

Where does it live?Mainly woodlands and forests, but it can adapt to open moor and hill.

What eats it?Foxes and golden eagles have been known to take newborn calves.

What is its food?Red deer graze on a wide variety of plants from grasses and heather to shrubs and trees.

Where in the world is it from?Red deer are found across Europe and Asia. They are very common on moorlands in the highlands of Scotland.

What is its lifecycle?Female deer (hinds) will normally breed from 3 years of age, giving birth to a single calf after 8 months. Male deer (stags) will normally mate from the age of 5. Red deer rarely live beyond 15 years.

How is it affected or used by humans?Farmers and foresters sometimes see red deer as pests as they feed on tree shoots and sometimes crops. Red deer are shot for sport, farmed for their meat (venison) and kept as ornamental speciesinUKparks.

Amazing Adaptations Antlers A stag’s antlers are grown and shed each year. The number of branches in a deers antlers can reach 16 points. The better the diet of the stag, the larger its antlers will grow. Antlers can make for powerful weapons during the breeding season when stags will use them for display and to fight with rival males.

Fur This is reddish brown in the summer, but in the winter a thick grey coat is grown for extra warmth and better camouflage.

External Glands Red deer have a number of external glands, used to mark areas with scent. The scent helps the deer to indicate mating availability and possibly to allow them to recognise other deer.

The red deer is the UK’slargestwildlandmammal.

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15. Smalltooth sawfish snoutWhat group does this animal belong to?Fish.

Where does it live?Mainly in coastal areas in shallow, muddy water. All sawfish have the ability to survive in both fresh and saltwater.

What eats it?Sharks.

What is its food?Small fish and shellfish.

Where in the world is it from?Tropicalandsub-tropicalwatersintheAtlantic,IndianandPacific Oceans.

What is its lifecycle?Sawfish are thought to live around 25 to 30 years. Females produce eggs that are kept inside the mother’s body until they are ready to hatch. Sawfish are pregnant for about a year and give birth to a litter of around 8 – 20 young (pups).

How is it affected or used by humans?Habitat destruction and over-fishing means that all species of sawfish are considered critically endangered. As well as being accidentally caught in fishing nets sawfish are also hunted for their saw which is prized as a curiosity item, their fins which can be eaten and their liver oil which can be used for medicine.

Did you know?

Amazing Adaptations Snout/saw The denticles (tooth-like structures) on the snout can be used to slash or stab small fish which can then be eaten. The surface of the snout is covered with motion and electro- sensitive pores that allow the fish to detect movement and even heartbeats of buried prey in the sea floor. The snout can then be used as a digging tool to unearth the buried prey. Sawfish have also been known to use their snout to defend themselves against predators such as sharks

Scales Sawfish skin is made up of tiny teeth-like structures called placoid scales. These scales point towards the tail and help the fish move smoothly through the water.

Fins The sawfish has a pair of fins on either side of its body just behind the gills. They are used to keep the sawfish stable in the water and help it slow down.

Despiteappearancessawfish are gentle fish and will not attack humans unless provoked or surprised.


Amazing Animals handling collectionGlossary of useful wordsAdaptation: the way living things suit their environment

Canines: a pair of sharp teeth used to tear food, especially meat

Camouflage: the way certain animals use colour or pattern to blend into their environment in order to hide from or to hunt other animals

Carnivore: an animal that eats only meat

Classification: the way we can sort living things into different groups to help us understand the natural world better

Conservation: taking care of living things and protecting them

Conservation status: a way to measure and report on how well we are taking care of a particular living thing

Diversity: the variety of living things

Ecosystem: an environment made up of all the living and physical things that are in it

Endangered: a rare species that is in danger of dying out

Environment: the natural surroundings of living things

Extinction: when a group of living things die out and cannot be replaced

Food chain: the way living things are linked by what they eat. A food chain always begins with the sun’s energy which is then passed along the food chain

Food web: many food chains can be joined together in one big web linking all of the plants and animals in an ecosystem

Habitat: the place where a group of animals and plants live

Herbivore: an animal which eats only plants

Incisors: the front teeth used for cutting

Molars: the back teeth used for grinding food

Omnivore: an animal that eats both plants and animals

Predator: an animal which hunts and eats other animals

Prey: an animal which is hunted and eaten by other animals

Species: a group of animals which share a number of the same characteristics and can breed together

Skeleton: the framework of bones supporting the body

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