Spiders

Spiders

 

Some spiders are small. Some are as small as the head of a pin.

Some spiders are big. One of the biggest spiders is the Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula. It

is bigger than a human hand. Large or small, all spiders have some things in common.

They all have eight legs. They all have fangs. Fangs are long, sharp teeth.

Spiders are helpful to people. They eat insects that harm farm crops. They eat insects that

carry diseases. Think twice before you squash one!

Directions:

 

Circle the correct answer.

1. Some spiders are the size of

A.the head of a pin

B.a basketball

2. The Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula is what kind of spider?

A.big spider

B.small spider

3. What are fangs?

 A.short legs

B.long, sharp teeth

4. How can spiders help people?

A.They eat insects that carry diseases.

B.They harm farm crops.

Animals of the Rain Forest

Tropical rain forests1 are warm, rainy places. The toucan lives in the leafy
trees of some tropical rain forests. Its beak can be different colors. Keep
reading to learn about other animals that live in rain forests.

Life in a Rain Forest
Tropical rain forests are home to more kinds of plants and animals than any other place in
the world. A rain forest has four layers. Read about the layers of the rain forest and some
animals that live there.

Emergent Layer
The tops of the tallest trees in the rain forest make up the emergent layer.2 Macaws live
in this part of the rain forest. Macaws are birds with long tails and strong beaks. They
belong to the parrot family.

Canopy
The tops of most of the trees in the rain forest make up the canopy.3 The
canopy blocks sunlight from reaching the areas of the rain forest below.
Spider monkeys live here. Spider monkeys eat fruits, seeds, and other
plants. These monkeys hang from trees by their tails and swing from branch
to branch.

Understory
The understory4 of the rain forest is a cool, shady place. Plants that grow here have large leaves. Some
anacondas live in the understory. Anacondas are one of the largest snakes in the world, reaching more
than 15 feet long. They are nocturnal.5 That means they are most active at night.

The forest floor is very dark and wet. Few plants grow on the floor. Many large animals live in this part
of the rain forest, such as jaguars. Jaguars are wild cats that live in the rain forests in Mexico,

which is a country in Central America.