Polynesian rat

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/polynesian-rat

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Rattus exulans
2. What is the geographic origin?Southeast Asia
3. How did the Polynesian rat get to places like Hawaii and New Zealand?It traveled with ancient human boats, riding along with food and supplies, and arrived before European explorers.
4. Why is the Polynesian rat a problem for island birds?It eats eggs and chicks of ground‑nesting birds, which can cause those bird species to decline or disappear.

Commensalism: A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Invasive Species: A non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm.
Endemic Species: A species native and restricted to a particular geographic area.
Ecological Niche: The role and position a species has in its environment, including how it meets its needs for food and shelter.