Animal Physiology and Classification Review

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary from the lecture notes on animal physiology and classification.

Pharyngeal slits

In aquatic animals, pharyngeal slits develop into gills.

Reptile skin type

Reptiles have thick, dry, and scaly skin.

Crocodilian heart chambers

Crocodilians have a 4-chambered heart.

Classes of Reptilia

There are 4 major classes of Reptilia.

Tuatara habitat

The Tuatara can only be found in New Zealand.

Reptile blood temperature

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals.

Snake eyelids

Snakes have no eyelids.

Plastron

The plastron is the bottom portion of a turtle’s shell.

Lizard locomotion

Lizards move using limbs along the ground.

Mammal excretion

Reptiles excrete uric acid to conserve water.

Prey detection in snakes

Snakes use their tongue to detect prey nearby.

Turtle eggs

Turtles lay hard-shelled eggs on land.

Parathyroid glands location

Parathyroid glands are found in the neck of reptiles.

Breathing underwater

Crocodiles have lungs to breathe underwater.

Lizard camouflage

Lizards use scales to camouflage in their environment.

Intelligence of mammals

Mammals are considered the most intelligent group due to their highly developed cerebral cortex.

Advantage of internal fertilization

Internal fertilization increases the protection of gametes and developing embryos.

Marine mammal adaptation

Marine mammals have thick blood and high myoglobin to dive deeply underwater.

Locomotion adaptation

Aquatic adaptation is characterized by streamlined bodies and flippers.

Powerful jumping locomotion

Animals that use their hind legs for jumping are known for saltatorial locomotion.

Evolutionary bridges

Monotremes are considered evolutionary bridges because they lay eggs but produce milk.

Thyroid hormones

Thyroid glands produce hormones like thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Fur function in mammals

Fur provides thermoregulation, camouflage, and sensory detection.

Mammalian hearing

Mammals have superior hearing due to three middle ear bones that amplify sound.

Mating system

In polygyny, one male mates with multiple females.

Thermoregulation in mammals

Mammals maintain constant internal temperature through endothermy supported by a high metabolic rate.

Complex emotions in brain

The cerebral cortex is most responsible for complex emotions and decision-making.

Whiskers function

Whiskers (vibrissae) help detect air movement and aid navigation.

Diversity in Rodentia

Rodentia is the most diverse mammalian order due to rapidly growing incisors and fast reproduction.

Example of saltatorial locomotion

A kangaroo hopping is an example of saltatorial locomotion.

Aquatic mammalian order

Cetacea is the most specialized mammalian order for aquatic life.

Frog mating position

The mating position in frogs where the male clasps the female is called amplexus.

Amphibian gut length

Adult amphibians have longer intestines because they need to digest proteins.

Anterior end development

The anterior end of the dorsal hollow nerve cord develops into the brain.

Chordata subphylum without tail

Urochordata is a subphylum of Chordata that has no tail extending beyond the anus.

Bird feather maintenance

Birds maintain feather quality using the uropygial gland for waterproofing.

Pectoralis major function

The pectoralis major is responsible for the upstroke in bird flight.

Chick development types

Precocial chicks hatch ready to walk, while altricial chicks hatch helpless and require care.

Notochord main function

The main function of the notochord is to provide support and organize the body axis.

Unique characteristic of Agnatha

Agnatha is characterized by jawless, eel-like bodies.

Bony fish respiration

Bony fishes breathe without swimming due to the operculum.

Reproduction inside mother

Viviparous reproduction involves eggs hatching inside the mother before birth.

Shark sensing

Sharks detect electric fields in the water using Ampullae of Lorenzini.

Defining mammal feature

The most defining feature that distinguishes mammals from other vertebrates is mammary glands.

Chordate tissue layers

Chordates are triploblastic, comprising three tissue layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Orders of Class Amphibia

The three orders of class Amphibia are Anura, Caudata, and Apoda.

Subphyla in Chordata

The three subphyla in Chordata are Cephalochordata, Urochordata, and Vertebrata.

Species from Cephalochordata

Species from Cephalochordata belong to the class Lancelet.

Urochordata siphons

Urochordates (Tunicates) have two siphons: an incurrent siphon and an excurrent siphon.

Simplest sea squirt

The simplest sea squirt known from Urochordata is the species 'Tunicata' or 'sea squirt'.