Evolutionary Biology Quiz

body plan of anole

• sharp nose, narrow head, slender body, and long, skinny tail

• tabs on their feet to help them climb, run, and cling

• eyes move independently of each other

• every male has an dewlap, extendable skin on their necks (some females might)

how does anole gather food from the environment?

• wait in their territory for live prey to come close

• stalk, lung and swallow prey whole while it’s moving

• sight plays a big role in their hunting

• eat insects mostly

• feces/concentrated urine comes out their cloacal opening

how does anole reproduce?

• seasonal process, March or April - September

• males display their dewlap and bobs head to attract female

• female accepts by bobbing her head back 

• female lays a single egg every two wks in moist, hidden spot

• eggs hatch 5-7 wks and parent abandon children

fun facts about anole

• can detach their tail to get away from predators & regenerate it

• when shedding, they eat their skin to regain nutrients

how is the anole adapted to its unique environment?

• longer limbs for running

• specialized toe pads

• urbanization, can navigate smooth, man made surfaces

skeletal structure

• axial skeleton, skull, veretrabral column, ribs, sternum

• appendicular skeleton, limbs

some bone functions:

• vertebrae protects spinal cord & supports abdomen

• hyoid, supports the weight of the tongue

muscular system

• skeletal muscles, attached to bones via tendons & controls voluntary movements by maintaining posture and producing movement

• cardiac muscles, only in walls of heart & controls involuntary movements by pumping blood through the body

• smooth muscles, in walls of hollow organs (blood vessels, bladder) & controls involuntary movement like propels substances through internal organs

circulatory system - What is the function of blood?

• transports oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells and tissues

• carry waste products away from cells and tissues

• protects body from infection

• makes clots to stop bleeding after injury

• immune systems carry through blood system

circulatory system - What organs and tissues are involved?

• organs: heart, blood vessels, arteries (carries blood away from the heart), veins (carries blood to the heart), and blood

• tissues: cardiac muscle

respiratory system - what is the function of the respiratory system?

• taking in oxygen and releasing carbon

respiratory system - what organs and tissues are involved?

• nose, trachea, lungs, bronchi, pharynx and larynx

• nasal section which contains nose and three different turbinates on each side to filter out particles

  • air goes down through the trachea and to the lung section and oxygen goes to the circulatory system through the alveoli

respiratory system - how does the respiratory system connect to the circulatory system?

• directly connected through the alveoli in the lungs and the surrounding network of capillaries

digestive system - what is the function of the digestive system?

• break down food into absorbable nutrients for maintainence and growth

• secretes waste

• chewing to physically break down food, and enzymes and stomach acid to chemically break down food

• absorbs nutrients in small intestine

digestive system - what are the organs and tissues involves?

• mouth

• esphogaus

• stomach

• small intestine

• liver

• gall bladder

• pancreas

• mouth

digestive system - how does the digestive system connect to the circulatory system?

• through the small intestine and liver where digestive nutrients are absorbed through the bloodstream

body plan and characteristics of a pig

• long snout, large head, body w/ four short, hoofed legs, short tail, and broad chest

• high developed respiratory system

• skeletal system, skull, spine, 14 pair of ribs

• nervous system, spinal cord & nerves to brains

• single-stomach digestive system

• 4 chambered heart

how does pig gather food?

• use snout to dig into soil

• grazers, eat grass and ground vegetation (fallen fruits, nuts, etc.)

• waste goes through stomach and two intestines before being expelled through anus

how does a pig reproduce?

• female pig enters estrous cycle (ready for mating)

• meets w/ boar

• gestation period (pregnancy) lasts 114 days

• 10-14 piglets in litter

fun facts about pig

• don’t sweat

• smarter than dogs

• mothers sing to babies

how is pig adapted to unique environment?

• snout has strong sense of smell

• good ears with earflaps

• good eyesight

• can live in high temps (roll in mud for hot weather)