Herpetology Practical Exam 2

Chelidae

side-necked turtles that inhabit aquatic environments across Australia, New Guinea and South America. ambush predators that use rapid side neck extension to capture prey.

Chelidae

Chelydridae

head, neck and limbs are not able to fully retract. powerful, snapping jaws. long, pointed tails. primarily aquatic and found in North and Central America

Chelyridae

Trionychidae

softshell turtles with a snorkel like snout. long necks, webbed limbs and flattened shell. mainly aquatic.

Trionychidae

Kinosternidae

backside of shell is hinged and overall carapace is very domed. large head. have musk glands in the cloaca that omit when disturbed. moderately webbed limbs. highly aquatic.

Kinosternidae

Emydidae

found in freshwater and semi-aquatic habitats. ponds, lakes, slow moving rivers. Omnivorous. Well-developed plastron (back of shell) for protection. webbed feet for swimming and shell is smooth.

Emydidae

Testudinidae

otherwise known as tortoises. fully terrestrial found in arid regions, grasslands. herbivores. feet are elephantine and legs are columnar.

Testudinidae

Cheloniidae

extensive migration patterns. front limbs like flippers and are used for propulsion. hind limbs used as rudders. sea turtles.

Cheloniidae

Podocnemididae

side necked river turtle. primarily found in rivers. pelvic girdle is fused to shell. have a large, flattened carapace

podocnemididae

Alligatoridae

Freshwater systems. U shaped snout with heavy dorsal osteoderms (boney deposits). Dark, robust body form. Overall have a much wider head than crocodiles. Have 4-chambered hearts. no lingual salt glands. (inside mouth near tongue).

Alligatoridae

Crocodylidae

V-shaped snout. 4th tooth of the lower jaw remains visible when mouth is closed. Can live in saline environments due to salt glands in mouth.

Crocodylidae

Eublepharidae

moveable eyelids. segmented tails that store fat and can be removed when threatened. clawed digits with no adhesions on toe pads.

Eublepharidae

Gekkonidae

most widespread lizard family. adhesive toepads made of microscopic hairs. do not have moveable eyelids. can vocalize through clicks or chirps.

gekkonidae

Cordylidae

Native to Sub-Saharan Africa found on rocky outcrops. Give birth to live young. Form heavy armor with spiny scales across body and tail. Scales strongly keeled.

Cordylidae

Scincidae

Secretive and can inhabit arid, tropical and forested areas. Smooth, shiny and overlapping scales. Limb reduction or loss is common. Short necks and small eyes.

Scincidae

Amphisbaenidae

worm lizards. legless. adapted for life underground. borrowers (fossorial). Body has distinct ring-like segments. heavily ossified skull for borrowing. reduced eyes.

Amphisbaenidae

Teiidae

thick neck. robust body. long tail. have large, rectangular scales that are arranged in distinct rows.

Teiidae

Anguidae

terrestrial inhabiting forests, grasslands and shrublands. non-overlapping scales. can have limb reduction.

Anguidae

Helodermatidae

Gila monsters. Slow moving, venomous.

Helodermatidae

Varanidae

Monitor lizards. very long, thin tails. V-shaped head and snout. Long snout.

Varanidae

Chamaeleonidae

projectile tongues. zygodactylous feet. Arboreal. slow movers.

Chamaeleonidae

Agamidae

over 400 species. moderate to large in size. teeth are fused to the crest of the jaw.

Draco (Agamidae)

flying lizards. South and Southeast Asia. Arboreal.

Draco

Uromastyx (Agamidae)

arid regions of North Africa, Middle East and south Asia. Spiny tailed lizards.

Uromastyx

Chlamydosaurus (Agamidae)

frilled lizard. Northern Australia and Southern New Guinea. best known for its cervical frill.

Chlamydosaurus

Pogona (Agamidae)

bearded dragons. characterized by spines down sides of body. Endemic to australia. broad, triangular heads. inhabit arid and semi-arid woodlands, scrublands and deserts.

Pogona

Moloch (agamidae)

capillary skin channels for gathering water to mouth. Covered in conical, uncalcified spines.

Moloch

Phrynosomatidae

spiny scales. Horn like projections on back of head. Arid species. Terrestrial to semi-terrestrial. sit and wait predat

Phrynosomatidae

Iguanidae

Robust bodies, long tails, well-developed dewlaps or dorsal crests. Sharp claws for climbing. Distributed across the Americas in tropical or subtropical regions.

Ctenosaura (Iguanidae)

spiny-tailed. robust bodies. well-developed dorsal (upper side or back) crests. Whorled scales on the tail.

Ctenosaura

Iguana (Iguanidae)

large arboreal. Neotropical. laterally compressed body. dorsal spines. well-developed dewlap.

Iguana

Sauromalus (Iguanidae)

chuckwallas. Arid regions of SW US and Northern Mexico. broad, flattened bodies and loose skin folds for thermoregulation.

Sauromalus

Crotaphylidae

large, blocky head. powerful jaw. very long, thin tail. Dark colored neck band. Dry, open habitats. Terrestrial found primarily in arid regions of Western NA.

Crotaphylidae

Dactyloidae

Anoles. (Anolis) Found in the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America. Adhesive toe pads, slender body and long tail, moveable eyelids and a well-developed dewlap.

Dactyloidae

Corytophanidae

laterally compressed body. Cranial crest or “crown”. well-developed claws for climbing. Arboreal or semi-arboreal. Found in Central America and Mexico.

Corytophanidae

Phrynosoma (phrynosomatidae)

horned lizards. stoud, dorsoventrally flattened lizards. Arid and semiarid regions of North America.

Phrynosoma

Sceloporus (Phrynosomatidae)

spiny lizards or fence lizards. spiny dorsal scale. males have bright blue ventral patches used in territorial and courtship displays. Found in North and Central America.

Sceloporus

Uta (Phrynosomatidae)

small, ground-dwelling lizards. granular dorsal scales. distinctive dark blotch just behind the forelimb.

Uta

Holbrookia (Phryonosomatidae)

earless lizards, but do possess ear openings. cryptic dorsal coloration. often have bold, black and white ventral coloration.

Holbrookia

Uma (Phrynosomatidae)

fringe-toed lizards. aid in locomotion on loose sand. pale, cryptic coloration.

Uma

Cophosaurus

zebra-tailed lizards. live primarily in arid regions in Southwestern US and Northwestern Mexico.

Cophosaurus

Pythonidae

patterns and scales are symmetrical on the head. Pelvic spurs from remnants of hind limbs. Two functional lungs. Shivering thermogenesis due to being egg layers. Head scales are wider than body. Heat sensing pits on upper and lower lips.

Pythonidae

Boidae

Head scale pattern is similar to the body. Almost looks like they have brow bones. Born fully developed.

Boidae

Viperidae

Vertical pupils.Long, rotating fangs that remain folded against the roof of mouth when not in use. Triangular heads. Infrared receptors. Keeled scales.

Lachesis (Viperidae)

Bushmasters. Southern Mexico to South America. Scales can vibrate in defensive displays. Terrestrial. Oviparous (egg layers).

Lachesis

Agkistrodon (Viperidae)

copperheads and cottonmouths. terrestrial to semi-aquatic. cryptic coloration that allows for camouflaging.

Agkistrodon

Bothrops (Viperidae)

lanceheads. lowland rainforests to savannas and agricultural landscapes. Most are terrestrial. Ambush predators.

Bothrops

Elapidae

front fixed fangs. Small, rounded heads. smooth scales. very venomous!! cobras, taipans, kraits, etc.

Elapidae

Colubridae

no front fangs. mostly non-venomous. large, rounded eyes with smooth scales. rear fanged.

Farancia (Colubridae)

aquatic with glossy scales. Bright red and yellow markings with a dark background.

Farancia

Imantodes (Colubridae)

blunt headed tree snake. large eyes with a skinny, slender body.

Imantodes

Oxybelis

tree/vine snakes. Slender, pointed faces.

Oxybelis

Drymarchon (Colubridae)

indigo snakes. Native to southeast US. Black/dark in color.

Drymarchon