BIO Exam 4: Chordata V (non-avian reptiles)

What Era was the “Age of Reptiles”?

The Mesozoic

What is the critical innovation of Amniotes?

ambiotic egg

What 2 Classes are in the Subphylum Amniotes?

Class Reptillia and Class Mammalia

What are the 7 defining traits of living reptiles?

1. Amniotic Egg

2. Tough, scaly skin

3. Powerful jaw

4. Internal fertilization

5. 3 chambered heart 

6. Lungs

7. Improved limbs

What importance thing did the amniotic egg bring about?

removed dependence on an external source of water

What are the tough scales of reptiles composed of?

keratin; protein scales

What does the Amnion part of an ambiotic egg do?

encloses fluid-filled cavity

What does the Chorion part of an ambiotic egg do?

membrane that allows the passing of oxygen and CO2

What does the Allantois part of an ambiotic egg do?

respiration surface and store nitrogenous wastes

What is the term used to describe the jaws in snakes and lizards?

Cranial Kinesis

What is the difference between non-avian reptiles (except crocodiles) and birds and mammals?

non-avian reptiles have a 3 chambered heart (mixed blood) while avian reptiles and mammals have a 4 chambered heart (no mixed blood)

True or false: Birds and crocodiles are sister taxa

True

List modern reptiles

turtles, snakes and lizards, crocodiles and aligators

What does the shell of turtles consist of?

a dorsal carapace and a ventral plastron

Where does the lung breathing in turtles take place?

pharynx and cloaca

What is environmental sex determination in turtles?

the sex of an offspring is determined by environmental changes rather than by sex chromosomes

What reptile group makes up 95% of living reptiles?

snakes and lizards

What kind of evolved maternal investment do snakes and lizards have?

they have viviparity; embryo developed in mother, nutrition from placenta

What are some interesting characteristics of lizards?

they have tail autonomy, external ears and moveable eyelids

What are the organs called that snakes use for odor reception?

vermeronasal

True or false: Snakes have limbs, girdles, and external ears

False

What is the word for the scale that goes over a snakes eye?

transparent scale

How do snakes feed?

venom or constricting

What specialized organ do pit vipers have?

heat sensing

What are fangs?

modified teeth that are hollow, venom ducts

What do the reptiles alligators and crocodiles have that mammals also evolved to have?

a secondary palate that completely separates the oral and nasal passages; breathe through nose and prevent water from getting into lungs

True or false: Alligators and crocodiles have a 4 chambered heart?

True