Animal Div Test 3

Professor HolbrookThird test for animal div on tetrapods, reptiles, and amphibians

What is a tetrapod?

A land dwelling, vertebrate. Means 4 footed but even if less than 4 feet an animal can be a tetrapod. (Preceded by arthropods.)

Why does oxygen make it harder to live on land than in water?

There is about 20X more oxygen in the air than in water.

What evolutionary modification helps most tetrapods breathe?

The change of the swim bladder into the lungs

Why does gravityn make it harder to live on land than in water?

There is no buoyancy on land

Why is thermoregulation harder on land than in water?

Water has a high specific heat capacity and fluctuates in temperature less.

Why does habitat diversity make land more difficult to live on than water?

it means that tetrapods have to adapt several times over to new niches instead of creating a “one size fits all” body type.

What two transitional forms of amphibians are recorded in the fossil record?

Tikaalik and Eusthenopterans

In Superclass Tetrapoda, Class Amphibia what are the 3 main orders?

Anura

Caudata

Gymnophnia

What are the characteristics of amphibians?

• 4 legs (usually)

• moist, porous skin with poison glands **

• light, bony, flattened head

• big mouth with small teeth

• 3 part brain

• ears with tympanum + 1 ossicle (stapes

• Jelly-like eggs (mostly aquatic) **

• Capability for cutaneous respiration (Some have lungs or gills as well) **

• 3 chambered hearts

What does Gymnophiona mean by root words?

“Naked Snakes”

What animals are in Class Amphibia, Order Gymnophiona?

(Hint: I recommend you never go up against them, WHEN DEATH IS ON THE LINE!)

Caecilians

Where do Caecilians mostly live?

In the tropics

Why are Caecilians similar to earthworms?

convergent evolution for similar environments

What is the anatomy of a caecilian?

• They are basically earth worms

• They’re blind

• they have terminal vents

What kind of reproductive practice do caecilians have?

They have internal fertilization, some are oviparous and some are viviparous.

What does caudata mean by root words?

“the tailed ones”

What animals in Class Amphibia, Order Caudata?

Salamanders and Newts!!

Where is the world biodiversity hotspot for Caudata?

The southern appalachians

(>100 species in a 3 hour radius of here)

What is the common tropical genus of Salamander?

Bolitoglossa

Where do Salamanders primarily live?

Temperate climates

What are the phases of a Salamanders life?

They start out as aquatic larvae with highly keeled tails and external gills

They morph to become terrestrial as adults

(some are paedomorphic/neotenic and some newts such as red spotteds become aquatic again as adults )

What do paedomorphic or neotenic mean?

They maintain larvae/child like features into adulthood

What three methods of respiration do Caudata use?

External Gills, Cutaneous Respiration, and Lungs

(all three or just one can be used depending on species; ALL caudata use cutaneous respiration)

What Family of salamanders are entirely lungless (do all cutaneous respiration)?

Family Plethodontidae

What Families of Caudate do we need to know?

Ambystomatidae

Plethodontidae

Salamandridae

What animals are in Family Ambystomatidae and what are their characteristics??

• Mole Salamanders

• Usually breed in fishless habitats

• Fossorial (underground dwelling) for most of life

What animals are in Family Plethodontidae and what are their characteristics??

• Lungless Salamanders

• Entirely cutaneous respiration

What animals are in Family Salamandridae and what are their characteristics??

• Newts

• Non-slimy bumpy skin

• Newts: Salamanders as Toads:Frogs

What animals are in Class Amphibia / Order Anura?

Frogs n’ Toads

What does Anura mean by root words?

“without tails”

Is there any taxonomic difference between frogs and toads?

No, but we all know deep down in our hearts that frogs are better.

What fungus has caused mass worldwide die-offs of many anurans?

Chytrid

How do some species of frogs live in extreme cold? (e.g. woodfrogs)

Glycerol in their blood acts like antifreeze

When are frogs typically active/breeding?

In warmer weather, even winter breeders breed in warm rains

What is Amplexus?

External fertilization technique used in anurans

How do anuran larvae breathe?

A spiracle and internal gills

What are some unique egg-laying adaptations of anurans?

• Lay eggs on leaves

• lay eggs in holes

• Eggs grow in skin sack on back of mother (surinam toads)

• Genus Jasperi (coqui) have internal fertilization

What mechanism can frogs use if another frog of the same sex or a different species tries to breed with them?

A release call

What Families of Anuran do we need to know?

Ranidae

Hylidae

Bufonidae

Microphylidae

What animals are in Family Ranidae?

* True Frogs

What animals are in Family Hylidae and what are their characteristics?

• The Tree Frogs

• They have sticky toe pads on their feet (Awe)

What animals are in Family Bufonidae and what are their characteristics?

• True Toads

• dry, warty skin

What animals are in Family Microphylidae?

* The narrowmouth toads and frogs

In superclass tetrapoda, Class Reptilia what are the four extant orders (non-Avian)?

Testudines (Only extant fam is Chelonia)

Squamata

Sphenodontia

Crocodilia

Are birds Reptiles?

Yes, taxonomically speaking.

Squares: Rectangles as Birds:Reptiles

What are some characteristics of class reptilia?

• Amniotic eggs with hard or leathery shells

• Not tied to freshwater resources like amphibians

• Impenetrable skin

What environment are you not likely to find any reptiles in?

Cold climates

What do the latin root word in reptiles (Repto) and the greek root word in herpetofauna (herpeto) mean?

“to creep”

What are the four extraembryonic membranes in an amniotic egg?

Amnion, Allantois, Chorion, yolk sac

What purpose does the amnion serve?

Cushion and protect the embryo

What purpose does the allantois serve?

Waste storage and respiration

What purpose does the choiron serve?

Respiration and protection

What purpose does the shell serve?

support the egg, and prevent water loss

What is the tradeoff to having amniotic eggs?

internal fertilization

What forms the skin derived structures (Nails/claws/scales) in amniotes?

Keratin and betakeratin

What are some characteristics of amniotes?

• Hair, claws, feathers, scales

• Stronger jaws

• more advanced cardiovascular system

• larger brains

How many heart chambers do crocs and other amniotes have?

4

How many heart chambers do reptiles minus crocs have?

3

what are some characteristics of nonavian reptilians?

• Scales made of betakeratin (sometimes osteoderms)

• Usually separate sexes (hemipenes in males)

• ectothermic (outside heat) and poikilothermic(variable heat)

What animals are in Order Testudines?

Turtles and Tortoises

What is the only extant family in Order Testudines?

Chelonia (They are the chil boys)

What are some characteristics of order testudines?

• Many are endangered due to overexploitation

• Long lifespans (150+ years)

• No teeth, keratinized plate

• breathe through cloaca

• Superior sense of smell

• Temperature sex determination

What families in testudines do we need to know?

Emydidae

Testudinidae

What animals are in Family Emydidae?

Pond turtles

What animals are in Family testudinidae?

Tortises

What animals are in Class reptilia, Order Sphenodontia?

Tuataras

What are some characteristics of Order Sphenodontia?

• lizard like bodies

• native to new zealand

• 10-20 years to sexual maturity

What animals are in Order Crocodilia and what are their characteristics?

• Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles, Gherials

• Can weigh up to 1 ton

• more parental care than most other reptiles

• can live in marine and aquatic habitats (estuarine crocs will surf in ocean)

• Temperature Sex Determination

What two species of Crocodilians are native to the US?

American Agilators

American Crocodilidans

What animals are in Class Reptilia, Order Squamata and what are their characteristics?

• The Snakes, Lizards, and Worm lizards

• Contains the most extant species (10,000+)

What does the root word squam (as in squamata) mean?

Scale

What Suborders of Order Squamata do we need to know?

• Lacertilia

• Amphisbaenids

• Serpentes

What animals are in Suborder Lacertilia and what are their characteristics?

• Lizards

• Characterized by 4 limbs (usually, some legless) + Eyelids

• Usually an unforked tongue

• several venomous species

• Mostly oviparous, some viviparous

What are some venomous species of lizard?

Gila monster, bearded lizard, komodo dragon

What families of Lacertilia do we need to know?

Gekkonidae

Iguanidae

Chamaeleonidae

Polychrotidae

Scincidae

What animals are in Family Gekkonidae?

Geckos

What animals are in Family Iguanidae?

Iguanas

What animals are in Family Chamaeleonidae?

Chameleons

What animals are in Family Polychrotidae?

Anoles

What animals are in Family Scincidae?

Skinks

What animals are in Suborder Amphisbaenia and what are their characteristics?

• Comprised of Worm Lizards

• They are secretly worms but they have eyelids (eyes covered by epidermis)

• Mostly fossorial (underground dwelling)

• Most species in latin america and africa

What animals are in Suborder Serpentes and what are their characteristics?

• Snakes

• limbless

• expandable lower jaw/ elastic ligaments

• no external ears (losers)

• Some are very visual predators

• Both oviparous and viviparous are common (most water species viviparous)

What are some sensory adaptations and special organs of Suborder Serpentes?

• Jacobson’s Organ or Vomeronasal Organ (for strong chemoreception)

• Heat Sensory pits

What are some common strategies Suborder Serpentes employs to obtain prey?

• overpowering

• constricting

• venom

What families of suborder serpentes do we need to know?

Viperidae

Elapidae

Colubridae

Boidae

Pythonidae

What animals are in Family Viperidae and what are their characteristics?

• Vipers and rattlesnakes

• large hinged fangs

• all venomous

• all are viviparous (Except bushmasters)

What different types of toxins are there in the venom of Class Reptilia?

Hemotoxins-attack blood (thin/clot)

Mycotoxins-attack muscles/tissues

Neurotoxins-attack brain/neurons

What animals are in Family Elapidae and what are their characteristics?

• Cobras and Coral Snakes

• All venomous

What animals are in Family Colubridae and what are their characteristics?

• Corn snakes, grass snakes etc. (largest family of serpentes with several genuses)

• mostly nonvenomous, a few venomous

• are Opisthoglyphous (rear fanged)

What animals are in Family Boidae and what are their characteristics?

• Constrictors

• Heaviest snakes (thicc)

• all nonvenomous

What animals are in Family Pythonidae and what are their characteristics?

• Pythons

• all non-venomous

• Constrictors

• Longest snakes (reticulated pythons)