Shar Pei

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/shar-pei

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?Canis lupus familiaris
2. What is the habitat?Native to southern China; now a globally distributed domestic breed
3. What does "Shar Pei" mean and why do they have a sand-like skin?The name means "sand skin" in Cantonese, describing their short, stiff coat that feels like sand.
4. Why do Shar Pei dogs have so many wrinkles?A genetic mutation in the HAS2 gene makes them produce extra hyaluronic acid, causing extra skin and deep wrinkles.

Morphology: The study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.
Hyaluronic Acid: A substance found naturally in the skin that helps retain moisture and provides volume and elasticity.
Entropion: A condition where the eyelid rolls inward, causing the lashes to rub against the eyeball.