BY 256L Reptiles Masterlist

Reptiles are paraphyletic

Birds and mammals also share a common ancestor with reptiles

Order Squamata

Lizards and snakes

Order Testudines

Turtles

Order Crocodilia

Crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials

Order Sphenodonta

Tuataras

Reptile Characteristics

Cleidoic (amniotic) egg
Water-tight skin
12 pairs of cranial nerves
3 semicircular canals
Keratinized, scaly skin
Epidermal scales

Order Squamata Characteristics

Most modern/recently diverged of living reptiles
Well developed sense of sight
Smell (Jacobson's Organ)
3-chambered heart
Internal fertilization
Hemipenes in males
Diapsid

Lizard Characteristics

External ears
Legs
Tail autonomy
Eyelids

Snake Characteristics

Lack pelvic and pectoral girdles
No eyelids
No external ears
Jaw can be dislocated

Family Amphisbaenidae Characteristics

Small (most less than 6 inches in length)
Carnivorous
Predominantly found in South America, Caribbean, and Africa

Family Amphisbaenidae Species

Worm lizards

Family Amphisbaenidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Amphisbaenidae

Family Phyrnosomatidae Species

Fence Lizard

Fence Lizard Characteristics

Live in rocky outcropping, woodlands
Prickly scale
Light sensitive scale regulates day and night, mating, and hibernation
Sexually dimorphic
Females are larger and have white stomach
Males are smaller, have brown behind their ear, and have a blue stomach

Family Phyrnosomatidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Phyrnosomatidae

Family Scincidae Species

Broad Headed skink

Broad Headed Skink Characteristics

Sexually dimorphic
Males have wide jaws and large claws
~ 1 ft in length
Arboreal
Smooth scales

Family Scincidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Scincidae

Family Anguidae Species

Slender Glass lizard

Slender Glass Lizard Characteristics

Tail autonomy
Eyelids
External ear openings
No legs
Grass habitat

Family Anguidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Anguidae

Family Iguanidae/Dactyloidae Species

Green Anole

Green Anole Characteristics

Primarily arboreal
Non-prehensile tongue
Dewlap

Family Iguanidae/Dactyloidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Iguanidae/Dactyloidae

Family Gekkonidae Species

Mediterranean House gecko

Mediterranean House Gecko Characteristics

Found in every warm land area

Family Gekkonidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Gekkonidae

Family Varanoidae Species

Monitors
Gila Monster

Family Viperidae/Crotalidae Characteristics

Heat sensitive pit organs
Venomous - hemotoxin
Fangs
Keeled scales
Single scales past cloaca
Vertically elliptical pupils
Ovoviviparous

Family Viperidae/Crotalidae Species

Copperhead snake
Cottonmouth snake
Pygmy rattlesnake
Eastern diamondback
Canebrake/Timber rattlesnake

Copperhead Snake Characteristics

Most common venomous snake in Alabama

Family Viperidae/Crotalidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Viperidae/Crotalidae

Family Elapidae Characteristics

Nocturnal
Fossorial
Venomous - Neurotoxin
Mostly in sandy soil

Family Elapidae Species

Coral Snake

Family Elapidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Elapidae

Non-Venomous Snakes Characteristics

Slender body
Round/oval head
Round pupils
Non-keeled scales
Divided scales past cloaca
No fangs

Family Acrochordidae Characteristics

Entirely aquatic

Family Acrochodidae Species

Wart Snakes

Family Acrochodidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Acrochodidae

Family Boidae Characteristics

Ovoviviparous

Family Boidae Species

Boas

Family Boidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Boidae

Family Colubridae Species

Black King snake
Grey Rat snake

Black King Snake Characteristics

Oviparous
Head is same diameter as body
Black dorsal surface, yellow speckles on sides, cream ventral surface

Grey Rat Snake Characteristics

Oviparous
Round pupils
Head is distinct from body
Good constrictor
Climbs trees
Non-keeled scales

Family Colubridae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Colubridae

Family Pythonidae Characteristics

Oviparous
Old World decent

Family Pythonidae Species

Pythons

Family Pythonidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Pythonidae

Family Xenopeltidae Characteristics

Iridescent scales

Family Xenopeltidae Species

Sunbeam snake

Family Xenopeltidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Xenopeltidae

Family Leptotyphlopidae Characteristics

Burrowers
Small

Family Leptotyphlopidae Species

Thread snakes

Family Leptotyphlopidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Leptotyphlopidae

Family Dipsadidae Species

Ringneck snake

Ringneck Snake Characteristics

Slightly venomous to slug, but not enough venom for humans

Family Dipsadidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Dipsadidae

Family Natricidae Characteristics

Live near water
Prey is aquatic

Family Natricidae Species

Little Brown snake
Green snake
Garter snake

Little Brown Snake Characteristics

Crescent moon around head and ear
Keeled scales
Patterned body

Garter Snake Characteristics

Keeled scales
Patterned body
No ring on back of head
Longitudinal light blue stripes

Family Naticidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Natricidae

Order Crocodilia Characteristics

Internal fertilization
Single penis
Oviparous
Parental care
Diapsid

Crocodile Characteristics

Narrow snout
4th tooth underbite
Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination

Alligator Characteristics

Broad snout
Overbite

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination Crocodiles

Warm incubation temperatures \= males
Cool incubation temperatures \= females

Family Alligatoridae Species

American Alligator

Family Alligatoridae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Crocodilia
Family Alligatoridae

Order Sphenodonta Characteristics

Pineal eye (covered by a scale)
No external ears
Nocturnal
Borrowers
Native to New Zealand
Diapisd

Order Spenodonta Species

Tuatara

Order Testudines Characteristics

Shell is bony plates covered by scutes
Carapace \= top
Plastron \= bottom
Thoracic vertebrae and ribs are fused to carapace
Oviparous
3-chambered heart
No parental care
Anapsid

Pleurodires

Retract their heads to the side
"Side-necked" turtles

Cryptodires

Retract their heads straight back
All Northern Hemisphere turtles are cryptodires

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination Turtles

Warm incubation temperatures \= females
Cool incubation temperatures \= males

Family Trionychidae Characteristics

Soft shells

Family Trionychidae Species

Gulf Coast Spiny Soft Shell Turtle

Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell Turtle Characteristics

Nose is like a snorkel
Females are generally larger than males

Family Trionychidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Trionychidae

Family Emydidae Species

Diamondback Terrapin
Eastern Box Turtle
Red-Eared Slider
Yellow-Bellied Slider

Eastern Box Turtle Characteristics

Males have red eyes, females have yellow eyes

Red-Eared Slider Characteristics

Red spot on either side of head
Box turtle

Yellow-Bellied Slider Characteristics

Spots on scoots

Family Emydidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Emydidae

Family Testudinidae Species

Tortoises

Family Testudinidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Testudinidae

Family Chelydridae Speices

Common Snapping Turtle

Common Snapping Turtle Characteristics

Ridged carapace
Omnivore

Family Chelydridae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Chelydridae

Family Kinosternidae Speices

Flattened Musk Turtle
Mud Turtle
Stinkpot Musk Turtle
Stripeneck Musk Turtle

Flattened Musk Turtle Characteristics

Endangered
Carapace is less rounded
Huge spots
4 corners on scoots (rhomboidal)

Mud Turtle Characteristics

3 corners on scoots (triangular)

Stinkpot Musk Turtle Characteristics

Nike swoosh on neck
4 corners on scoots (rhomboidal)

Stripeneck Musk Turtle Characteristics

Green algae on carapace
No stripe on neck
4 corners on scoots (rhomboidal)

Family Kinosternidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Kinosternidae

Family Cheloniidae Characteristics

Hard shells

Family Cheloniidae Species

Sea Turtles

Family Cheloniidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Reptilia
Order Testundines
Family Cheloniidae

Family Dermochelydidae Species

Leatherback Sea Turtle