Nature: Exotic Creatures 4

– The Titan Beetle –

“The Titan Beetle, or ‘Titanus giganteus’, is one of the most captivating species of the insect world, renowned for its remarkable size and formidable mandibles. This colossus among beetles is found primarily in the rainforests of the Amazon, where it inhabits regions of dense vegetation and high humidity.

An adult Titan Beetle can reach lengths of up to 16.7 centimeters, making it one of the largest known beetles. Their elongated, brown bodies are characterized by extremely hard exoskeletons and strong, sharp mandibles capable of snapping pencils and cutting into human flesh.

Despite their intimidating appearance, Titan Beetles are essentially harmless to humans unless provoked. The beetles are elusive creatures, with adults emerging primarily at night to seek mates. Fascinatingly, adult Titan Beetles do not feed; they subsist on reserves they amassed during their larval stage, which can last several years.

These magnificent creatures are an embodiment of nature’s extremes, a testament to the diversity and adaptability of life on Earth. The Titan Beetle’s survival in the wild underscores the urgency of preserving the world’s rapidly diminishing rainforests.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

The Titan Beetle is predominantly found in the ________ of the Amazon.
These beetles can attain a ________ of up to 16.7 centimeters.
The Titan Beetle’s distinguishing features include an extremely hard ________ and strong, sharp mandibles.
Despite their formidable appearance, these beetles are primarily ________ to humans unless provoked.
Adult Titan Beetles emerge mainly at ________ to seek mates.
The survival of the Titan Beetle in the wild highlights the importance of ________ the world’s rapidly diminishing rainforests.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

The Titan Beetle, an inhabitant of the Amazon’s ________, is recognized for its extraordinary size and robust mandibles. Measuring up to 16.7 centimeters, it’s among the most sizable beetles, with distinctive features like a hardened ________ and sharp mandibles that can even cut into human flesh. Contrary to their daunting presence, these beetles pose minimal ________ to humans unless disturbed. Adults of the species are primarily nocturnal, emerging during ________ to find mates. Interestingly, adult Titan Beetles survive on nutrients gathered in their larval stage. Their existence in the wild underlines the critical need for ________ our rapidly depleting rainforests.

Vocabulary Builder

Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.

Original word	Variants used
Rainforests	________
Lengths	________
Exoskeletons	________
Harmless	________ / ________
Elusive	________
Emerging	________
Feed	________
Reserves	________
Preserving	________

Reveal answer (10 More Words)

Original word	Variants used
Rainforests	Dense vegetation
Lengths	Size
Exoskeletons	Outer shells
Harmless	Safe, pose minimal threat
Elusive	Nocturnal
Emerging	Appearing
Feed	Consume nutrients
Reserves	Gathered nutrients
Preserving	Protecting