Repitles & Birds Study Guide

List the 5 species of sea turtles in Florida:

Green sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp Ridley sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle

Circle the one most prized for shell pattern and has a hooked beak for eating sponges.

Hawksbill sea turtle

Name the species that primarily eats jellyfish:

Leatherback sea turtle

Name the species that is an herbivore:

Green sea turtle

What are 2 ways leatherbacks adapted for deep diving?

They have a firm, leathery skin with seven longitudinal ridges instead of a hard shell, and they can maintain a body temperature higher than the surrounding water (endothermy), allowing them to venture into much colder, deeper water.

Largest sea turtle:

Leatherback sea turtle (can grow to 6 feet in length).

Social Behavior:

Sea turtles are generally solitary, coming together only to mate.

Where on the beach do sea turtles make nest?

Past high tide mark

Where do sea turtles lay eggs? How many?

On the same beach they were born (100-150)

What determines the gender of baby sea turtles?

Temperature of sand

What keeps female from nesting on a beach?

People, animals, buildings (development of beaches)

How do sea turtles remove excess salts?

Through their tears

We think sea turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field to return to the same beach where they hatched. What substance in their brain allows them to do this?

Magnetite

Name the marine reptile found only on the Galapagos Islands.

The Marine Iguana

Why are they blackish?

To help absorb heat from the sun while basking on rocks

Describe how marine iguanas are adapted to sea life by telling what do they eat?

Dive into water to catch seaweed/ algae

How do they remove excess salt? ( Marine iguanas)

Snotting, sneezing out

Where do they lay their eggs? (Marine Iguanas)

in sand

List the adaptations of sea snakes that allow them to inhabit the sea:

They have a laterally flattened body with a paddle-like tail for swimming. They can also breathe through their skin. 

• Venom: They are related to cobras and have powerful, potentially fatal venom, though they are generally not aggressive. 

• Diet: They are carnivorous, mainly feeding on fish and fish eggs. 

Salt glands under tongue

live birth

How venomous are they?

Can kill humans quickly, but not aggressive

Found in Indian + Pacific

What do they feed on? ( Sea snakes)

Small fish & fish eggs

How do they remove excess salt? ( Sea snakes)

Salt glands under tongue

Where do saltwater crocs live?

Australia, Indian Ocean, Asian Islands, Western Pacific Islands, found in estuaries, mangroves forests, and the open ocean

Where do American crocs live?

Florida, the West Indies, and Central/South America, Caribbean

Are they aggressive? (American crocodile)

Yes

How do crocodiles remove excess salts?

Under tongue

How do saltwater crocs differ from alligator?

Shape of snout, color, teeth, fresh vs. salt

Seabirds: endotherms or ectotherms

Warm blooded

What makes sea birds waterproof?

Oil secreted from gland near base of tail

What determines a seabird’s feeding style?

Shape of beak

Name 3 adaptations of seabirds to marine life:

Salt glands for removing excess salt

Waterproof feathers

Beak shapes specialized for different prey

shore birds

Live on land, feed off intertidal zone, do not get in water

Ex: Oystercatchers, curlews, sandpipers, herons, and plovers

What bird is this?

Oystercatcher

What bird is this?

Curlew

What bird is this?

Sandpiper

What bird is this?

Herons

What bird is this?

Plover

Near shore birds

Webbed feet, dive into water for small fish

Ex: Gulls, terns, skimmers, pelicans, and cormorants

What bird is this?

Gull

What bird is this?

Terns

What bird is this?

Skimmers

What bird is this?

Pelican

What bird is this?

Cormorants

Oceanic birds

Webbed feet, live on ocean, only come to land to breed

Ex: Albatross, frigate birds, puffins, penguins, and skuas

What bird is this?

Albatross

What bird is this?

Frigate bird

What bird is this?

Puffins

What bird is this?

Penguin

What bird is this?

Skua

Where do they often make nests?

On isolated islands or cliffs

What do gulls feed on?

Opportunistic, garbage, fish, eggs, invertebrates

What is the oceanic bird that spends most of its time aloft?

Albatross, Arctic tern ← longest migration 10 months

Seabird with longest wingspan?

Albatross up to 11 feet

Name the type of bird that scoops up fish in their gular pouch

Pelican

Name the type of bird that bullies other birds into giving up their food

Skua, frigate bird (no oil)

Which is an agile flyer that often gets caught in nets?

Cormorant

3 adaptions of penguins for living in the sea

Air in feathers, blubber, countershading