Herps Midterm (Notes)

Ectothermic

Ectothermic

Utilizes external sources to maintain internal body temp within a certain range

Extant Amphibian Orders

Gymnophiona, Caudata, Anura

Extant Reptile Orders

Testudines, Crocodylia, Squamata, Rhyncocephalia

Descriptive Epithets

Named after what the animal looks like

Honorific Epithets

Animal named after a person

Locality Epithets

Animal named after a place

D K P C O F G S

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

How to remember DKPCOFGS

Dumb Kids Playing Chase On Freeways Get Smushed

ICZN

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

What did herps evolve from

Sarcopterygii (Lobe-Finned Fish)

What was the first Amphibian

Ichthyostega

What was the first Reptile

Anthracosaura

NO

Are amphibians and reptiles close relatives

Cicaelians

Gymnophiona

Salamanders

Caudata

Frogs

Anura

Annulated

Ring segments

Ossified

Bone/calcified

Fossorial

Underground

Fenestre

Holes in head/skull

Anapsid

No holes in skull

Diapsid

2 Holes in skull

Upper part of shell

Carapace

Lower part of the shell

Plastron

Osmosis

Movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane

Hyperosmotic

Individuals that have a greater internal ionic concentration than its environment

Hyposmotic

Individuals that are in an environment with greater ion concentration than that of their body.

Cutaneous drinking

Obtaining water through skin

Pelvic Patch

highly vascularized skin that absorbs water

How do male frogs lose lots of water?

When calling, they expose the maximum amount of surface area causing them to "dry out" faster (think of bridge freezing over)

Australian Tree Frog

Litoria caerulea

What is interesting about the Australian Tree Frog?

During dry seasons, they only emerge from tree hollows at night and remain out until their body temperature drops to 54.5F. Their hollow is warm and humid when they return and condensation forms on the dorsal surface which the frog will drink cutaneously.

How are frog cocoons made

Formed by multiple layers of ecdysis (shed)

How did the Indigenous Australians get water

Would dig up frogs from the dirt and squeeze them to empty their bladders. The frogs can produce up to half a glass of clear, tasteless urine.

Is water loss a problem for reptiles

Not as much. They have impermeable skin

Desert Lizard Water Aqusition

Drink the water that condenses on their skin when they enter cool burrows

South American Tortoise Water Aqusition

Elevate the posterior carapace higher than the head. Causes water to run along the carapace towards the head

How do reptiles get water with scale hinges

Water follows a channel of capillaries that lead towards the mouth

Brumation (Hibernation)

Lowering metabolic rate and altering cardiovascular function

Torpor

Sluggishness, decreased food consumption, less than hibernation

Aestivation

Dormant state that helps an animal withstand hot, dry periods

Caudata

With tail

Anura

Without tail

Gymnophiona

Without foot

Urostyle

extension of the sacral vertebrae

Pedicellate teeth

The crowns of the teeth are separated from the roots by fibrous tissue

Systematics

The study of evolution and classification of organisms

Devil Toad

Beelzebufo ampigna

Lateral Line System

sensitive receptor system that enables animals to detect what's around them (school of fish from Nemo)

Polyphyodont

Animals whose teeth are continuously replaced

Two Stroke Buccal Pumping

Processes more quickly, and is seen in most extant reptiles, but does involve about 20% mixing

Four Stroke Buccal Pumping

Used by some amphibians, and has several stages. Resets breathing for two stage buccal pumping

What are some skeletal characteristics of anurans?

Short vertebra, urostyle, hypobranchial elements

What are some characteristics of anuran larvae?

Keratinous beaks, single median spherical body

What is a unique feature of anuran tongues?

Lack intrinsic skeletal support

What muscles are responsible for moving the eyes in anurans?

Protractor lentis muscles

Anuran Body Structure

Shortened vertebral column, robust pectoral girdle, and forelimbs

Bufonidae

True toads

Characteristics of Bufonids

Parotoid glands and Bidder's organ

Parotoid Glands

Organ behind the ear that will discharge a milky toxin when threatened

Bidder's Organ

Gonadal tissue that retains female attributes in male toads

Why do toads not leap

The pelvic girdle and sacrum are modified for side to side movement

What is amplexus

Mating position for anurans where the male clasps onto the female from behind

Houston Toad

Bufo houstonensis

Golden Toad

Incilius periglenes

Hylidae

Tree Frogs

Characteristics of Hylids

Co-ossified head, teeth on maxilla and premaxilla, terminal discs on digits, and prominent tympanum (eardrum)

White's Tree Frog

Litoria caerulea

Caerulin

A drug used to stimulate smooth muscle and increase digestive secretions

Red-Eyed tree Frog

Agalychnis callidryas

Pipidae

Tongueless Frogs

Characteristics of Pipids

Lateral line, produces a clicking call, absent tympanum, transmit sound vibration, both sexes vocalize

Surinam Toad

Pipa pipa

Surinam Toad Reproduction

Female releases eggs onto male's stomach, male loosens grip on female, eggs will roll onto females back and be fertilized simultaneously. Repeats multiple times. Male presses himself against the female to bury the eggs into the female's back.

African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

Ascaphus truei

Frogs that have a tail that is used for copulation purposes

Characteristics of Caudates

Limbs extend at right angles from the elongate cylindrical body, pedicilic teeth

Salamander or Newt

All newts are salamanders, but not all salamanders are newts

Arboreal Salamanders

Toes with tips that assist in climbing vertical surfaces

Unken Reflex

Arched back and tail with head raised to show off brightly colored underside to scare off predators

What is a way that caudates escape

rolling away

Autotomy

Self-amputation of a damaged or trapped appendage

Epithelial Cap

A group of cells will congregate under the epidermal covering

Fibroblasts

Free to become a variety of cells depending on the body part that is being replaced

Blastema

A mass of fibroblasts that has the potential to grow into various limbs, organs, or tissues

Aposematic Signal

Warning coloration

Tertodotoxin

Most potent known natrual toxin made by the Taricha (newt) genus

Neoteny

Retention of juvenile features

Obligate Neoteny

Never fully undergo metamorphosis

Ambystomatidae

Mole Salamanders

Characteristics of Ambtstomatids

Typically fossorial, aquatic larval stage, well-developed costal grooves

Ambystomatidae species

Axolotl, Tiger Salamanders

Tiger Salamanders

Largest terrestrial salamander in North America

Northwestern Salamanders

Gills in larval stage, presence of parotoid glands

Axolotl

Able to induce metamorphosis by adding thyroid hormones to the water, do not survive long when terrestrial

Plethodontidae

Largest group of Caudates.

Characteristics of Plethodontids

Arboreal, lungless, nasolabial grooves that aid in chemoreception, cutaneous respiration

Sirenidae

Sirens

Characteristics of Sirens

Tiny forelimbs and lack hindlimbs and pelvis

Salamandridae

Newts and True Salamanders