herps textbook questions

External Fertilization

A reproduction method in amphibians involving fertilization outside the female's body, allowing for large offspring numbers but with lower successful fertilization rates due to environmental factors.

Internal Fertilization

A reproduction method common in reptiles providing eggs with protection from predators and environmental conditions, but has a lower number of offspring.

r-selected species

Species like sea turtles that produce many offspring, yet have low survival rates and often experience a fast decline in lifespan.

K-selected species

Species that produce fewer offspring but invest more resources into raising them, resulting in a longer lifespan.

Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD)

A mechanism by which the sex of offspring is determined by the temperature of the environment during incubation, advantageous for population balance.

Hybridogenesis

A reproductive strategy in which unisexual ambystomatid salamanders incorporate sperm from males of parental species but do not pass male genes to offspring.

Matrotrophy

A reproductive strategy where the mother provides extra nutrients to developing embryos beyond what is available in the yolk.

Maternal Dermatophagy

A form of matrotrophy where embryos consume the mother's uterine lining to gain nutrients.

Oophagy

The process where the mother lays unfertilized eggs that are consumed by the offspring.

Optimal offspring size theory

The hypothesis suggesting that there exists an optimal egg size depending on species constraints.

Cryptic morphology

Body shapes or colors that help an animal avoid detection by predators.

Operational sex ratio

The ratio of sexually active males to females at any given time influencing mating success.

Simple display

Basic body movements or color changes used for basic communication, such as warning of territory.

Compound display

Combination of body postures and color changes that convey more complex messages.

Complex display

Elaborate movements and color patterns often used in courtship to signal fitness.

Acoustic signals in frogs

Various vocalizations frogs produce for communication including calls for mating, territory defense, and distress.

Evolutionary arms race

The ongoing evolutionary struggle between predators and prey, affecting traits such as toxin resistance.

Pleurodire turtles

Side-neck turtles that cannot retract their heads into their shells and instead fold them to the side.

Cryptodira turtles

Turtles capable of retracting their necks back into their body cavity.

Gavialis

The gharial crocodile, controversial in phylogenetic placement due to unique jaw structure and molecular evidence.

Crocodylian jaws

Different jaw shapes in crocodilians adapted for various prey types, such as broad jaws for generalists and narrow jaws for fish.

Geomydidae

The turtle family with the most extant species but smaller populations.

Sphenodontia

An order that includes tuataras, which are not considered true lizards due to different evolutionary lineage.

Scolecophidian snakes

Also known as blind snakes, they are fossorial with reduced eyes.

Alethinophidian snakes

All other snake species, known for their significant ecological diversity.