Exam 1 Tuataras & Squammata

Diversity

7700 species world wide

found most everywhere

lizzard = non snake tuatara

Lepidosaura synapomorphies

includes snakes and tuataras

transverse vents

ecdysis

autonomy planes in tails (some)

2 hemipenes

tuatara features

sister group to squammata

living fossils (2 species)

acrodont teeth

heterodont teeth

chisel like beak

lower temporal bar complete

squammata synapomorphies

kinetic skull

hemipenes forked or spiny, sulcus spermaticus

viviparity

some parthenogenic

some limbless

few glands

generally overlapping scales

squammate phylogenetics

snakes and amphisbaenia nested

lizzards are a paraphyletic group

Squammata: Gekkota

pantropical

some have tiny scales

most are nocturnal

some lack eyelids

pleurodont teeth

some vocalize

some with setae

1-2 eggs, parthenogenesis in some

Gekkota on Delmarva

Med House Gecko

Squammatat: Scincidae

1500+ species

pleurodont teeth

caudal autonomy

osteoderms

shiny scales

½ are viviparous

some limbless

Scincidae on Delmarva

P laticeps (broad head skink)

P fasciatus (5-lined skink)

S lateralis (ground skink)

Squammata: toxicofera

monophyletic group

genes and some mild toxins found in many lizzards and all snakes

Squammata: Phrynosomatidae

unique to North America

some are specialists

Phrynosomatidae on Delmarva

Sceloperous undulatus (have blue scales)

Sexing

males tend to be more colorful and larger

Families with acrodont teeth

Assume unless said otherwise

Chameleonidae

Tuatara

Families with pleurodont teeth

Iguanidae

Scincidae

Gekkota