BIOL1263 Living Organisms II: Amphibians and Reptiles

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the lecture on amphibians and reptiles.

Amphibians

A class of animals characterized by their ability to live both in water and on land, typically has a life cycle that includes larval stages.

Tetrapods

A superclass of vertebrates that includes amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, which evolved from lobe-finned fish.

Amniote egg

An egg that contains extraembryonic membranes including the chorion, amnion, yolk sac, and allantois, allowing for terrestrial reproduction.

Buccal pumping

A method of ventilation in amphibians where air is drawn into the lungs through the mouth.

Double circulation

A circulatory system in amphibians involving two circuits: the pulmonary circuit (to the lungs) and the systemic circuit (to the body).

Cutaneous respiration

The process of gas exchange through the skin, commonly seen in amphibians.

Ectothermic

Organisms that rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature, typical of amphibians and reptiles.

Poikilothermic

Organisms whose body temperature fluctuates with the environment, as in many amphibians and reptiles.

Nitrogenous excretion

The process of removing nitrogenous waste from the body; amphibians excrete urea, while reptiles excrete uric acid.

Monophyletic

A group of organisms that consists of all the descendants of a common ancestor, as seen in modern amphibians.