Vertebrate Ecology Lecture One

class amphibia

of phylum chordata

• require water to reproduce

subclasses:

• labyrinthodontia (extinct)

• lepospondyli (extinct)

• lissamphibia

subclass lissamphibia

“class” reptilia

of phylum chordata

• adaptations for life on land

• rough skin w scales

• no distinct larval stage

• breathe air

• most lay eggs

4 extant orders:

• Sphenodontia
  • Crocodilia
  • Testudines
  • Squamata

class aves

of phylum chordata

• feathers

• adaptations for flight

class mammalia

of phylum chordata

• hair

• mammary glands

• teeth

why move to land?

• droughts

• escape predation

• open niches

adaptations for terrestrial living

respiration: air bladder → lungs

water loss: scales → specialized skin

reproduction: aquatic → non-aquatic

order anura

frogs

• permeable skin

• eggs require water

suborder neobatrachia

suborder neobatrachia

3 families

• bufonidae - toads

• hylidae - treefrogs

• ranidae - true frogs

order caudata

salamanders

• eggs require moist environment

• permeable skin

suborder salamandroidea

suborder salamandroidea

4 families (at UNDERC)

• ambystomatidae - mole salamanders

• Plethodontidae - woodland salamanders

• Proteidae – mudpuppies

• Salamandridae – true salamanders

amniotes

• Amniotic egg adaptation to decrease reliance on
  aquatic habitats for reproduction

• Includes reptiles, birds and mammals

order testudines

turtles

• bony or cartilanginous shell

suborder cryptodira

• chelydridae - snapping turtles

• emydidae - pond turtles

order squamata

lizards and snakes

• all have horny scales

• movable quadrate bones - upper jaw movable

  suborder scleroglossa

infraorder srppentes

infraorder serpentes

• Lack legs, eyelids and external ears
  - Internal fertilization
  - Colubridae

Class Aves

BIRDS

columnbiformes

doves and pigeons

falconiformes

diurnal birds of prey

apodiformes

hummingbirds

gruiformes

cranes and rails

piciformes

woodpeckers

strigiformes

owls

anseriformes

ducks and geese

galliformes

chickens and turkeys

passeriformes

perching birds

feathers

made of keratin

• insulation

• flight

• visual communication

• camouflage

feather structure

Base of vane (afterfeather) → barbules lack
barbicels
- Outer part of vane→ barbules interlock
- Barbicels on distal side of barbules connect to adjacent barb
- Provide cohesion and flexibility
- Friction barbules

remiges

flight feathers

primaries: provide forward thrust

secondaries: provide lift

coverts

cover gaps between remiges

retrices

steering and braking

feather care - preening

• Secretes oil composed of waxes, fatty acids, fat, water
  • Preserves feather moistness and flexibility
  • Important for insulation and waterproofing
  • Regulate bacterial and fungal fauna

adaptations for flight

• decrease overall weight

  • hollow spaces in bones

• skeleton reinforced

• support masculature for flight

  • furcula

• flight muscles

  • large pecs

morphological trends of aves

• jaw and teeth

  • masseter → stronger bite

• secondary palate

  • chewing and breathing

• appendicular girdles

  • hindlimbs move to parasagittal plane

• body size

  • trend toward smaller body size

eulipotphyla

shrews and moles

chiroptera

bats

rodentia

rodents

carnivora

cats, dogs, bears, weasels

artiodactyla

ungulates

lagomorpha

rabbits

mammary glands

nourishment for young

• water

• protein

• fat

• sugars

• vitamins and salts

hair

• dead epidermal cells

• keratin

• Outer layer → cuticle scales
  Cortex → contains pigments
  Medulla → inner layer
  Coat → pelage
  Provides insulation
  Molting

modern mammals

Single dentary bone
3 auditory ossicles
2 occipital condyles
Tympanic bone
Hair
Four-chambered heart
Enucleate erythrocytes
Mammary glands
Diaphragm