Reptiles and Birds

Phylum Chordata

reptiles, birds and mammals (also Subclass Anapsida)

Infraclass Testudomorpha, Order Testudlines

modern turtles, only living reptiles with anapsid skulls

Subclass Diapaida

Infraclass Lepidosauromorph and Infraclass Archosauromorpha

Infraclass Lepidosauromorph

Tuatara, lizars, and Snakes, diapsid reptiles → two fenestra seperated by postorbital and squamosal bones, 2 orders Sphenodonta and Squamata

Order Sphenodonta

tuataras, from triassic and live today (2 species)

* came before dinosaurs and live after
* live on New Zealand
* burrows with seabirds
* 15 month incubation 120 year life

Order Squamata

lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians

jacobson’s organ

vomeronasal organ- forked toung that picks up odor molecules

Infraclass Archosauromorpha

crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds, 3 orders, crocodilia, sauischia and ornithischia

Order crocodilia

alligators, caimans, gavials, and crocodiles, 4-chabered heart, full secondary palate

Order saurischia

dinosaurs, pubis forward

Order Ornithischia

dinosaurs, pubis backward

Archaeopteryx lithographica

earlisest undisputed bird, 150 mya

confucisornis sanctus

120 mya, crow sized, with three fingered limbs, earlist bird to fly for distance

adaptations for flight

lighten load, high power

lighten load

* fused hollow bones
* bill, no teeth
* rapd digestion
* one oviduct
* no bladder
* feathers

high power

* high operating temperature
* large heart
* one way lungs
* alula, reduces air turbulence over the top of the wing