Herpetology Exam #2 Terms

acrodont teeth

having teeth fused to the top of the upper jaw margin

active forager

moving from one place to another to look for food

aposematic coloration

coloration of poisonous or distasteful animals which gives a warnin

autonomy

self division or fracture; the ability to cast off, spontaneously or by reflex, a part of the body

axanthism

color mutation lacking any xanthophores

bicuspid teeth

possessing two cusps

brumation

a condition of torpor during extended periods of low temperatures; metabolic processes are reduced

cardiac shunts

a normal physiological process where deoxygenated and oxygenated blood can mix within the heart, a capability enabled by the incomplete division of their ventricle

chromatophores

pigment cell of the skin; a specialized body cell that contains the pigment granules

concertina movement

a type of locomotion occurring in snakes in which the animal progresses via a series of alternative contractions and extensions of the body, giving it an accordion-like appearance as it moves across a surface

corridors ‘passageways’

areas/tunnels created that allow for the safe travel/movement of animals

critical thermal temperature

the high and low temperatures a reptile/chelonian can tolerate before dying

Crofab

(Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab); a sheep-derived antivenom used to manage envenomation from North American pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths)

crypsis

protection comes from looking like something else in the environment

death faint

defensive reflex action in which a position similar to that of a dead specimen is adopted

dermis

connective tissue layer beneath epidermis that contains blood vessels, nerves or osteoderms in crocodilians

dewlap

pendulous fold or flap of skin under the throat and usually referring to extensible dewlap in iguanidae lizards

disruptive coloration

colors which confuse the eye by disrupting the shape/outline of an animal against its surroundings.

disruptive outline

particular shape which confuses the eye by disrupting the shape or outline of an animal.

Duvernoy’s gland

venom-producing gland of rear fanged colubrid snakes, usually situated the angle of the mouth

ecdysis

act of losing or removing the dead, keratinous, outer most layer of epidermis

eco-estrogens

disrupt the reproductive development of species that are particularly temperature sex dependent

• caused by chemicals such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

• can mimic natural hormones and cause sex change in male species (causing intersex gonads, and other reproductive abnormalities)

ectotherm

organisms that regulate body temperature by outside sources of heat

egg attendance

some species provide parental care

• crocodiles guard nests and young

• some snakes, like pythons, coil around eggs to help thermoregulate

• skinks defend nests and protect eggs from predators

endotherm

organisms that can self-regulate body heat

environmental sex determination [ESD]

factors from the environment that can determine the sex of reptiles (EX: temperature & pH)

extra-optic receptor

a light-sensing cell located outside of the eye

• used for sensing light

• UV regulation

• detect heat

fracture plane

zone of softer tissue in the tail bones of some lizards that allow the tail to break off

geotaxis orientation

gonadal dysgenesis

underdeveloped gonads (ovaries or testes) that lead to abnormal sexual development

genetic sex determination [GSD]

gustatory

sensory relating to chemical reception usually on the tongue

habitat fragmentation

Harderian

a gland in the eye orbit of reptiles that helps lubricate the nictitating membrane

heliothermic

any animal that needs to bask in the sun in order for thermoregulation to take place

heterodont

possessing teeth of several types used for crushing, grinding, tearing, and cutting

home range

area which an individual animal occupies during its life, including both permanent and seasonal territories

homeotherm

hydrotaxis orientation

Iguanids

induced hermaphroditism

inert endotherm

infrared pit organ

lateral undulation

lecithotrophy viviparity

leks

leucistic

lysozyme

matrotrophy viviparity

melanistic

melanophores

mesocosms

metanephric

molarform teeth

monophyodont teeth

monophyodont

myoglobin

nasal gland

nomadic

Oberhautchen

obligatory carnivore

ophidophobia

osteoderms

parental care

parthogenesis

placentotrophy

pleurodont teeth

poikilotherm

proteroglyphic fang

rectilinear locomotion

saccular

Salmonellosis

saxicolous

scansorial

scleral ossicle

Scleroglossan

seismic

sexual dimorphism

shifting activity center

sidewinding locomotion

solenoglyphic locomotion

Squamates

temporary aggregations

territoriality

thecodont

thermal conformer

thermoregulation

thigmothermic

tomia

torpor

temperature sex determination [TSD]

undulatory movement

unicuspid teeth

Unken reflex

urotomy

UVA light

UVB light

UVC light

Van der Waals force

vasodilatation