ansc250: module 12-14 vocab

ch 18-20

amphibian

A cold-blooded vertebrate with an aquatic, gill-breathing larval stage that is typically followed by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage

amplexus

The mating position in which some amphibians, such as frogs, clasp the female from behind. As she releases eggs, the male fertilizes them by expelling sperm

biphasic

Having two life cycles

brumation

A state of reduced activity, slow body functions, or sluggishness that an amphibian or reptile enters during cold weather

buccal cavity

A large cavity in the throat of amphibians (with lungs) that allows air into the cavity, which is then pushed into the lungs for gas exchange to take place

caecilian

A burrowing, wormlike amphibian with poorly developed eyes and no limbs

cutaneous respiration

An amphibian’s method of breathing in which the animal obtains oxygen from the air or water through its skin

desiccation

The process of removing moisture from something that normally contains moisture, such as an animal’s body

dichromatism

Differences in color patterns between the male and female members of a species

ectothermic

An animal that cannot regulate its own body temperature and uses the environment to change its body temperature

estivation

A period of inactivity that is induced by heat and dryness

herpetology

The study of reptiles and amphibians

hygrometer

An instrument used to measure humidity

Jacobson’s organ

See vomeronasal organ

lateral line

A series of neuromast cells along the sides of an amphibian or fish that help it detect changes in water movement and alert it to predators or prey

light pollution

The presence of artificial light at nighttime that interferes with visual observations and the normal cycles of some amphibians

metamorphosis

A set of developmental stages in which the organism transforms from an immature form to an adult in two or more distinct stages

neoteny

The retention of larval characteristics into adulthood.

nuptial pads

Thickened patches of skin on a frog’s thumbs that are used during amplexus

olfactory system

The sensory system that controls the sense of smell that is used in species recognition, courtship, and recognizing territory

operculum

A cover that protects an animal’s gills, such as on a salamander or fish

parotoid gland

An external skin gland on amphibians that may be used to release toxins

poikilotherm

An animal that is dependent on its environment for its metabolism and temperature regulation

preferred optimal temperature zone (POTZ)

The range of temperature in which an amphibian is comfortable and that provides it with the optimal metabolism

spermatophore

A mass, or packet, containing spermatozoa that is released by a male amphibian and transferred to the female’s reproductive tract through the cloaca

systemic

When something foreign, such as bacteria, enters the circulatory system

tympanum

An external ear drum on frogs and toads

vivarium

A terrarium designed to provide a living environment for an amphibian that mimics its natural environment

vomeronasal organ

A patch of sensory cells in the nasal chamber of an amphibian or reptile that detects moisture-born odor particles, including pheromones

vomeronasal system

A sensory system that works with the olfactory system to obtain chemical information from airborne odor particles

anal plate

The scale in front of and covering the vent (cloacal opening) of a snake. Also called an anal scale

anal scale

also known as an anal plate

aquarium

A type of vivarium enclosure used for aquatic species

autotomy

The voluntary shedding of a body part, such as a lizard’s tail, that is used as a defense mechanism

brille

A protective covering on a snake’s eye

brumation

A state of reduced activity, slow body functions, or sluggishness that an amphibian or reptile enters during cold weather

candling

Holding an egg up to a light source while in the dark to see if there is a developing embryo in the egg

carapace

The upper shell of turtles and tortoises

caseous

The crumbly, cheese-like pus in abscesses on reptiles

chelonian

Turtle or tortoise within the Order Testudines

chemoreception

A process that uses olfactory receptors to smell or sense chemicals. The Jacobson’s organ, which is found in snakes and lizards, is used for chemoreception

clutch

Turtle or tortoise eggs in a nest

The number of eggs a bird lays within several days

ecdysis

The act of molting or shedding skin

gaping

The extended opening and closing of the mouth that occurs when a reptile has a respiratory infection

gout

A disease caused by a buildup of uric acid in the intestines and joints

heliotherm

A reptile that obtains heat from sunlight

keeled scale

A reptile scale that has a ridge in the center and tapers down on either side

parthenogenesis

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction in which a female does not require a male to bear offspring and can asexually reproduce

plastron

The lower shell of turtles and tortoises

polyphyodontic

Teeth that are reabsorbed or shed throughout an animal’s life

rectilinear movement

Movement in which a snake propels itself in a straight line using waves of muscular contraction and extension, much like an earthworm. Also called rectilinear progression

scute

The plates turtles have on their shells and crocodiles have covering most of their bodies

semiaquatic

A species that spends some time in water and some time on land

septicemia

An infection of the blood

septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD)

A bacterial disease of aquatic turtles that creates ulcers in the skin and causes the scutes to fall off the turtle

serpentine locomotion

Movement in which the snake pushes itself off objects that are in its path while alternating the contraction and relaxation of muscles on each side of its body, which bends the body into an S-shaped curve

terrapin

An aquatic turtle within the Order Testudines

terrarium

A type of vivarium enclosure developed to accommodate land species

thigmotherm

A reptile that obtains heat from surfaces such as soil

aviculture

The raising and caring of birds

barbs

Individual strands of feather material extending laterally from the rachis. They are attached to each other with barbules

barbules

Small branches of feathers with hooks that link the feathers in the vane of a bird’s feather

blood feathers

A bird’s body feathers that still have a blood supply in the shaft because they are still growing

bristle feathers

Short, stiff, hair-like bird feathers that lack barbs and are found most commonly on the head. They may protect the bird’s eyes and face

calamus

The base of the feather that attaches to the body

cere

The soft, fleshy, bare patch at the base of the upper mandible (upper beak) of a bird

charm

A group of finches or a group of hummingbirds

choana

An opening that connects a bird’s nasal cavity with the mouth (buccal) cavity and the throat (pharynx)

contour feather

Flight feathers that develop on the wings and tail to assist with flight. These feathers give the bird its shape

coverts

Contour feathers on a bird’s wing that smooth over the region where the flight feathers attach to the bone

crop milk

A semisolid excretion that is high in fat and protein, and is fed to newborn pigeon and dove hatchlings. Both female and male birds produce and regurgitate this from their crop

down feather

The small insulating feathers found close to the body that help keep a bird warm

ear covert

The small feathers that cover a bird’s ear openings

egg-bound

A condition in which a female will have one or more eggs stuck inside her. This can be fatal if it is not resolved. Causes of egg binding include cold weather, low levels of calcium, obesity, and a lack of muscle tone

filoplume feather

The small, hair-like feathers that are used for making small flight adjustments and repositioning other feathers. These occur among the contour feathers

flight feather

The big, stiff feathers on the wings and tail

keel

An extension of a bird’s breastbone (sternum), which provides a type of anchor for the wing muscles

molting

The natural feather replacement that birds experience once or twice per year

nares

A bird’s external nostrils

nonpasserine

Birds that are not in the Order Passeriformes

passerine

Birds with straight beaks and four toes, with three pointing forward and one pointing backward

pecking order

A hierarchy established by birds. The most dominant birds typically rest on the highest perches

preening

The action of a bird when it is working oils from its uropygial gland into its feathers. A bird also rearranges its feathers in the correct shape and order

primary feather

The outermost feathers on a bird

rachis

The center, hollow shaft of a feather

rectrices

The larger feathers in a bird’s tail that are used for steering in flight. Most birds have 10 to 12 rectrices

remiges

The flight feathers on a bird’s wing. These feathers make up all of the flight feathers, including the primaries, secondaries, and tertial feathers, that make up the trailing edge of the wing

secondary feather

The smaller feathers that begin halfway down the wing

semiplume feather

Feathers similar to down feathers that occur between the contour feathers, provide insulation, and increase a bird’s buoyancy in water

sexually dimorphic

The males and females of a species have different physical features, such as when the male is larger or has brighter coloring than the female

sour crop

This occurs when candidiasis infects a bird’s crop. Also referred to as crop stasis

tertial feather

The innermost flight feathers. They are attached to the humerus bone in the bird’s upper arm. There are usually three to four tertials

uropygial gland

A gland at the base of a bird’s tail that produces oils that are used for preening. Birds work the oils into their feathers with their beaks

acute

A form of beak and feather disease that is seen in young birds as they are getting their first adult feathers. Developing feathers begin to appear deformed, break easily, or molt early

anthelmintic

An antiparasitic drug that expels parasites from the body without causing significant damage to the host.

army

A group of frogs

bale

A group of turtles or tortoises

bask

A group of crocodiles. Also called a float

chronic

A form of beak and feather disease that develops in adult birds. When molting, the feathers are abnormal, and beak deformities occur after the changes in feathers

coccidia

Plural of coccidium