lab exam 2

whats so special about the amniotic egg? what are the 4 extra embryonic membranes?

biggest evolutionary innovation

1. amnion

2. chorion

3. allantois

4. yolk sac

name 3 types of skulls with temporal fenestrae

anapsid: without tf (turtles, ancestral)

synapsid: one pair of tf (mammals)

diapsid: two pairs of tf (lepidosaurs, archosaurs)

which orders have kinetic skulls and which have akinetic skulls?

kinesis (flexibility from diapsids)

squamates have kinetic skulls

iguanas have a kinetic skulls

subclass diapsida

order squamata

what are the 7 major clades?

1. Pleurodonta

2. Acrodonta

3. Anguimorpha

4. Serpentes

5. Lacertoidea

6. Scincomorpha

7. Gekkota

name 4 morphologies that all squamatas share

1. diapsid skulls

2. well developed epidermal scales

3. transverse Slit (cloaca opening)

4. hemipenes (eversible copulatory organs)

superfamily Lacertoidea

family Teiidae

name 4 morphologies and 2 modes of reproduction for Teiidae

1. elongated body

2. pointed head

3. long tail

4. robust hindlimbs

parthogenesis, hybridization

superfamily Lacertoidea

clade Amphisbaenia

family Rhineuridae (worm lizard)

name 7 adaptations for this family and 3 differences from snakes or legless lizards

1. burrowing lifestyle

2. elongate 

3. limbless

4. reduced eyes

5. head is extremely rigid 

6. distinct cranial shapes for digging/burrowing

7. skin being unattached to the trunk
   

1. lack all traces of internal pelvic girdle (legless lizards retain)

2. reduced right lung (snakes and legless lizard have reduced left lung)

3. rings of scales, 2 annuli per vert (snakes have 1)

superfamily Scincomorpha 

family Scincidae (skinks)

name 3 morphologies for this family and explain dimorphism in this species

1. cylindrical bodies

2. robust tails

3. smooth shiny scales

juveniles have bright blue tails, adults don't 

how can you tell the difference between the larger skinks?

scales on the underside of tail, upper edge of mouth

• Broad-headed Skink (P. laticeps): Usually has 5 labial scales along the upper lip between the nose and the eye. Additionally, they generally have 8 or 9 total upper labial scales (excluding the rostral scale at the very front).

• Common Five-lined Skink (P. fasciatus): Typically has 4 labial scales along the upper lip between the nose and the eye. They generally have a total of 7 upper labial scales.

clade Gekkota 

families Sphaerodactylidae (dwarf) and Gekkonidae (spectacled geckos)

name 2 noteworthy features 

1. unique toe morphology (closely spaced lamellae on toes)

2. Sphaerodactylidae lays single eggs

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Anguimorpha

family Anguidae (glass lizards)

name 3 morphologies and 2 predators defenses

1. heavy armor

2. large non-overlapping scales

3. longitudinal fold that separates dorsal and ventral armor (permitting expanding and contracting)

1. tail autonomy 

2. regeneration

name another reptilian species that has convergent evolution with glass lizards

snakes

clade Toxicofera

clade Iguania

superfamily Pleurodonta

family Dactyloidae (anoles)

name 5 morphologies and purposes

1. sexually dimorphism (males have large, colorful dewlaps)

2. dewlaps (signaling mates or rivals)

3. toepads (climbing)

4. setae (microscopic hair structures to cling)

5. long pointed snout (arboreal insectivore)

clade Toxicofera

clade Iguania

superfamily Pleurodonta

family Phrynosomatidae (fence lizards and horned lizards)

name 3 morphologies 

1. flat, stout body, short tail

2. enlarged, rough, spiny scales

3. sexually dimorphic (males have bright throat and side patches)

family Iguanidae

name 3 morphologies and diet

1. dewlap 

2. dorsal spines

3. pineal (parietal) eye

juveniles are omnivorous, adults are herbivorous

family Leiocephalidae (curly tailed lizard)

name 2 morphologies 

1. highly keeled scales along dorsal edge 

2. coil tail when threatened

family Chamaeleonidae 

name 6 morphologies 

1. independently move each eye

2. very long tongues

3. zygodactylus 

4. bodies are laterally compressed

5. prehensile tail

6. change colors

family Agamidae

what is a patagium?

parachute like foldable membrane extending from sides, supported by elongated highly mobile ribs 

family Varanidae (monitor lizards)

morphologies to evade predators

large, structurally complex lungs to facilitate active lifestyle and water escape

clade Toxicofera

clade Iguania

family Helodermatidae (beaded lizard, gila monster)

name 6 morphologies 

1. cylindrical, heavy bodies

2. short legs

3. thick tails 

4. blunt head

5. venomous

6. nonmuscularized venom glands (unlike snakes)

order squamata 

clade serpentes (snakes)

name 2 main types of venom

1. neurotoxic (elapid)

2. cytotoxic (vipers)

both hollow tubes

name 3 types of dentitions for fangs

1. Proteroglyphous dentition (elapid): stationary, don't fold, fitted into grooved slots in floor of mouth

2. Solenoglyphous dentition (vipers): fold back against roof of mouth, encased in membranous sheath

3. Opisthoglyphous dentition (Dipsadinae): rear upper jaw, not hollow, deliver venom through grooves 

identify bones

body and head scales

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Serpentes 

clade Colubroidea

family Colubridae (colubrid snakes)

name 7 snakes from this family

1. eastern black racer

2. eastern indigo

3. eastern coachwhip

4. scarlet snake 

5. king snake

6. redrat (corn) snake

7. yellow rat snake

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Serpentes 

clade Colubroidea

family Dipsadidae

name 4 morphologies and diet

1. Opisthoglyphous dentition 

2. mild venom

3. upturned snout (terrestrial burrowing)

4. enlarged rostral scale

eats toads, have enzymes that detoxify toads 

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Serpentes 

clade Colubroidea

family Natricidae (garter snakes, water snakes)

whats their diet?

smaller body size = eat fish

bigger body size = more frogs

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Serpentes 

clade Colubroidea

family Elapidae (coral snakes, cobras)

name 3 morphologies

1. Proteroglyphous dentition

2. neurotoxic

3. batesian mimics

most dangerous

clade Toxicofera 

superfamily Serpentes 

clade Colubroidea

family Viperidae (vipers, pit vipers)

name 6 morphologies

1. Solenoglyphous dentition

2. stout

3. short tails

4. triangular heads

5. vertical pupil

6. heat sensing pit (b/t eyes and nostril for prey detection)

clade Toxicofera

superfamily Serpentes 

family Typhlopidae (blind snakes)

name 2 morphologies

1. rostral scale overhangs the mouth

2. eyes are mostly vistigial

mistaken for worms, NOT segmented

clade Toxicofera

superfamily Serpentes 

family Boidae and Pythonidae

name 2 morphologies

1. constrictors

2. anal spurs on either side of cloaca

considered basal

order Rhynchocephalia

family Sphenodontidae -Tuatara

name 4 morphologies and why it differs from Iguania

1. pineal eye

2. two rows of teeth

3. beak formed

4. jaw rigidly attached to skull

Sphenodontidae skulls are akinetic and acrodont, diapsid

modern lizard skulls are kinetic and pleurodont, lost temporal bar for flexibility

archosaura

order Crocodylia

what families are included here? what are some morphologies?

Crocodylidae (crocodiles), Alligatoridae (alligators), Gavialidae (gharial)

1. thecodont dentition (like mammals)

2. internal nares toward rear of secondary palate

3. fleshy palatal valve

4. 4 chambered heart

compare diapsid skulls from the 3 crocodilian families

crocodilians retain some primitive traits, what are they?

1. dermal bone in osteoderms and gastralia

2. vascularized osteoderms

3. single shafted penis

4. oviparous

order Testudines (turtles)

name some distinctive turtle physical features

1. outermost shell made of keratin and scute

2. scutes have growth rings (tells approximate age)

3. ventral plastron

4. carapace

pelvis is attached to the plastron and carapace on in the Pleurodire (side-necked)

order Testudines

sub order Pleurodira (side neck)

name 3 traits

1. retract necks and head horizontally

2. long, snake like neck

3. pelvis is attached to the plastron and carapace

sub order Cryptodira (hidden neck)

family Cheloniidae (sea turtles)

name 2 morphologies

1. heads and limbs cannot be retracted

2. front limbs are stronger than their hind limbs

suborder Cryptodira (hidden neck)

family Dermochelyidae (leatherbacks)

name 6 morphologies and diet

1. carapace of leathery skin w/ thousands of embedded bony osteoderms

2. no keratin scutes

3. plastron has outer ring of bone

4. no claws

5. skeleton of unmineralized cartilage

6. low sa:v allows them to be totally pelagic

eat jellyfish

order Testudines

suborder Cryptodira

family Chelydridae (snapping turtle)

name 5 morphologies and some species specific facts

1. long tail

2. large heads

3. sharply pointed beak, hooked

4. three rows of spiked scutes

5. reduced plastron

alligator snappers are largest freshwater turtles in the US, males larger, worm-like tongue

common snappers feed by searching or sitting/ambushing

suborder Cryptodira

family Kinosternidae (mud and musk turtles)

name 5 morphologies

1. high, vaulted shells

2. reduced or hinged plastrons

3. short tails

4. fleshy barbels on chins

5. shells more oblong, football shaped

suborder Cryptodira

family Trionychidae (soft shell)

name 6 morphologies

1. pancake shaped leathery shell, w/o bones or scutes

2. long retractable necks

3. snorkel like nostrils

4. paddle-like limbs

5. three claws per foot

suborder Cryptodira

family Emydidae (box and water turtles)

most diverse family of turtles

sliders and cooters

suborder Cryptodira

family Testudinidae (tortoise)

name 4 morphologies

1. elephantine rear legs

2. flattened forelimbs armored with bony-cored scales

3. large domed shells

4. unwebbed feet

name the 2 parts of the contour feathers

1. retrices: on tail

2. remiges (flight feathers): bottom edge of wing

name the 3 parts of remiges

1. primaries: largest, strongest

attached to metacarpals and phalanges

2. secondaries: provide lift

attached to ulna

3. tertiaries: attached to humerus

name the parts of a single feather

1. rachis: hollow, central shaft

2. vane: branches on either side of the rachis

3. barbs: side branches

4. barbules: (hamuli) link barbs together

5. calamus/quill: base of feather, no side branches

bird bones

crop definition and function

esophagus w/ an expanded region called the crop

stores food prior to digestion or before regurgitation

“crop milk” comes from pigeons, doves, flamingos, emperor penguins

clade Palaeognathae (ratites and tinamous)

name some properties to Palaeognathae and the difference b/t ratites and Tinamous

1. most basal living bird

2. males incubate eggs

ratites: flightless, unkeeled sternum

tinamous: can fly, keeled sternum

clade Neognathae (all birds except Palaeognathae)

name a few morphological features

elongated third finger

fused metacarpal

superorder Galloanserae

order Anseriformes (waterfowl)

name 5 morphologies

1. webbed feet

2. elevated hind toe

3. pointed wings

4. blunt tipped bill

5. dense, waterproof feathers

superorder Galloanserae

order Galliformes (landfowl)

name 3 morphologies

1. bills are short, conical

2. four toes

3. precocious young

superorder Neoaves

order Podicipediformes (grebes)

name 3 morphologies

1. posterior appearance of their legs

2. flattened toes

3. flattened claws

they eat their own feathers (strainer for fish bones or minimizing parasite build up)

order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, egrets, bitterns, ibis, spoonbills)

name some morphologies for this order and some species specific characteristics

1. totipalmate feet (all four toes joined by webs)

2. pelicans have gular pouch

3. herons have long, spear-like bills and s shape neck

4. ibis has decurved bill

5. roseate spoonbills get color from crustaceans they eat

order Suliformes (anhinga, cormorants, gannet, boobies)

name a few morphologies

1. ALSO have totipalmate feet

2. cormorants have sharp, curved hook at the end of their beak

3. anhinga has pointy, dagger shaped beak

order Phoenicopteriformes (flamingo)

how do they feed? what order are they closest to?

filter feeders

closest to grebes

Ciconiiformes

storks, wood stork

order Falconiformes

name some important characteristics

1. long wings

2. tomial tooth (triangle shaped downward pointing projection)

fits into notch on lower mandible

3. American kestrel sexually dimorphic (m: greyish blue wings, f: rust wings)

4. cere: soft, fleshy patch at base of upper mandible

Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, osprey, kites, old world vultures)

name a few characteristics

1. diurnal, raptorial

2. strong hooked bill

3. powerful legs, sharp talons

Cathartiformes (new world vultures, cali condor)

black vultures have poor sense of smell, rely on vision

turkey vultures have fine sense of smell

Gruiformes (rails, coots, limpkin, crane, gallinule)

name an order-wide loss

lack of a crop

coots have lobed toes

Charadriiformes (shorebirds)

name some birds

sanderling

gull

tern

puffin

Gaviiformes (loons)

name some physical features

1. stocky necks

2. spear shaped bills

3. streamlined bodies

4. webbed feet

5. laterally compressed tarsi

6. impression that their legs attached to rear

Columbiformes (doves, pigeons)

name physical traits and morphological traits

1. plump bodies

2. small heads

3. short legs

4. fleshy cere at base of bill

Psittaciformes (parrots and allies)

name some morphologies

1. strongly hooked beak

2. zygodactyl feet

3. mobile upper mandible

4. psittacin pigments

Cuculiformes (cuckoos)

name some morphologies

1. zygodactyl feet

2. parasitize (leaving eggs in other nests)