BIO 202 - Lecture 11 - Animal Biodiversity

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Animal Biodiversity lecture, including vertebrate evolution, adaptations, and reptile classification.

What is the subphylum that is also known as Craniata?

Vertebrata

What are the evolutionary progressions of Subphylum Vertebrata?

Living endoskeleton, nervous system complexity, paired appendages, and jaws

What characteristics define Chordata?

Notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, postanal tail, and endostyle

What are the key adaptations that allowed vertebrates to invade land?

Limbs for support, lungs and cutaneous respiration, prevention of desiccation, and temperature regulation

Name the three orders within Class Amphibia

Urodela (salamanders), Anura (frogs and toads), and Gymnophiona (caecilians)

What are the two specifics of vertebrate brain development?

Forebrain- olfaction, Midbrain - vision, Hindbrain - hearing, balance

Describe the amphibian circulatory system.

3-chambered heart with 2 atria and 1 ventricle, resulting in mixed circulation

What is amplexus?

External fertilization in Anura (frogs and toads) without copulation

What are the distinguishing characteristics of Class Amphibia?

Amphibious life history and strange blood circulation

What is the significance of the amnion in amniotes?

It provides further adaptations to terrestrial life, including internal fertilization and a shelled egg.

Describe the difference between non-avian reptile and crocodilian, bird, and mammal circulatory systems.

Non-avian reptiles have a 3-chamber heart that allows lung bypass whereas Crocodilians, birds, and mammals have a 4-chamber heart with no mixing and high pressure.

What groups are included in Diapsida?

Tuataras, lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodilians, and birds

What are the two major groups of Order Squamata?

Suborder Sauria (geckos, iguanids, skinks, monitors, chameleons) and Suborder Serpentes (snakes)

What are the characteristics of snakes (Suborder Serpentes)?

Carnivorous, elongated, limbless, one lung, kidneys stacked, lack eyelids & external ears, mobile jaws, venom in fangs

What are the characteristics of Order Crocodilia?

Share ancestry with dinosaurs and birds, mostly tropical and freshwater, predators, massive jaw musculature, rapid closure single penis, oviparous, temperature-dependent sex determination, females guard nest and young

What does the notochord do?

A flexible rod providing support in chordates.

Describe the